Crop Progress 7/25/2010

Corn Silking: Il. - 96% U.S. - 84%
Corn Dough: Il. - 41% U.S. - 17%
Soybean Blooming: Il - 79% U.S. - 75%
Soybeans Setting Pods: Il. 36% U.S. 35%
Winter wheat Harvested: Il. - 100%: U.S. - 79%
Corn Condition : Il. vp-p - 11% Vg-Ex - 65%
--------------------------:U.S. vp-p - 9% Vg-Ex - 72%
Soybean Condition: Il. vp-p - 10% Vg-ex - 63%
--------------------------:U.S vp-p - 10% Vg-ex - 67%

National Agricultural Summary

July 19 - July 25, 2010

Highlights: While average temperatures in the northernmost Rocky Mountains and Great Plains fell to as many as 6 degrees below normal during the week, abnormally warm temperatures persisted in a band stretching from coast to coast across the Nation's midsection. Specifically, temperatures in areas along the Mid-Atlantic Coast reached as many as 10 degrees above normal. Despite the lingering heat, small grain and row crop conditions remained mostly good to excellent throughout much of the major growing regions. Strong summer thunderstorms delivered above average precipitation to several regions of the country during the week, replenishing inadequate soil moisture levels in some areas while adding to already soggy fields in others. Most notably, portions of the Corn Belt received in excess of 5 inches of rainfall during the week, leading to localized flooding and ponding in some low-lying fields.

Corn: With progress at or ahead of both last year and normal in all estimating States, 84 percent of the Nation's corn crop was at or beyond the silking stage by July 25, thirty-two percentage points ahead of last year and 14 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Near to above average temperatures throughout much of the major corn-producing areas continued to promote rapid phenological development of this year's crop despite abundant to locally excessive soil moisture levels. Nationally, 17 percent of the corn crop was at or beyond the dough stage by week's end, 10 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Doughing was furthest ahead of last year and the 5-year average in Illinois, the second largest corn-producing State, where nearly ideal growing conditions had pushed progress to 20 days ahead of last year's growing pace. Overall, 72 percent of the corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but slightly better than the same time last year.

Soybeans: By July 25, three-quarters of this year's soybean crop was at or beyond the blooming stage, 15 percentage points ahead of last year and slightly ahead of the 5-year average. With the exceptions of Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi, double-digit blooming was evident throughout the major soybean-producing areas. Seventeen percent of the Nation's soybean crop began setting pods during the week, leaving progress, at 35 percent complete, 16 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Crop development was most rapid in Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, and Ohio, where 21 or more percent of the crop began setting pods during the week. Overall, 67 percent of the soybean crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from both ratings last week and the same time last year.

Winter Wheat: By week's end, 79 percent of the 2010 winter wheat crop had been harvested, 3 percentage points ahead of last year but slightly behind the 5-year average. While harvest was complete or nearly complete in over half of the 18 major estimating States, producers in the Pacific Northwest and Montana were just getting started or had yet to begin combining this year's crop. The most significant delay was evident in Montana, where overall progress was over two weeks behind normal following slowed crop growth earlier in the season.

Cotton: Nationally, squaring of this year's cotton crop had advanced to 94 percent complete by July 25, seven percentage points ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. In Texas, an increase of available heat units throughout the Plains promoted squaring of 11 percent of the crop during the week. Favorable growing conditions led to increased boll setting throughout the major cotton-producing areas during the week, and by week's end, 58 percent of the Nation's crop had set bolls, 13 percentage points ahead of last year and 10 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. The most rapid progress was evident in Arizona, California, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee, where 20 percent or more of the crop began setting bolls during the week. Overall, 68 percent of the cotton crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 22 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Sorghum: Heading advanced 13 percentage points during the week, leaving progress, at 43 percent complete, 9 percentage points ahead of last year and slightly ahead of the 5-year average. Warm temperatures in and adequate soil moisture levels provided ideal growing conditions in Kansas, the largest sorghum-producing State, where 11 percent of the sorghum crop began heading during the week. Nationwide, 26 percent of the crop was at the coloring stage or beyond by July 25, on par with last year but slightly behind the 5-year average. The most significant delay was evident in Texas, where the need for additional soil moisture limited crop growth. Overall, 71 percent of the sorghum crop was reported in good to excellent condition, down 4 percentage points from ratings last week but 19 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Rice: Heading of this year's rice crop advanced to 52 percent complete by week's end, 26 percentage points ahead of last year and 20 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Mostly favorable growing conditions promoted head development of 12 percent or more in all estimating States except California, where progress fell to over three weeks behind normal. Overall, 73 percent of the rice crop was reported in good to excellent condition, down slightly from ratings last week but 11 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Small Grains: A week of warm, mostly sunny days allowed ample time for oat producers in all estimating States except North Dakota, where harvest was just beginning, and Texas, where harvest was nearly complete, to harvest 11 percent or more of their crop during the week. At 30 percnent complete, National progress was 16 percentage points ahead of last year and 4 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Overall, 78 percent of the oat crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 23 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Heading of the 2010 barley crop advanced to 90 percent complete by July 25, three percentage points behind last year and 5 percentage points behind the 5-year average. While heading was complete in Minnesota and Washington, progress continued to trail normal in Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota, the three largest barley-producing States. Overall, 86 percent of the barley crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 9 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Nationally, 94 percent of the spring wheat crop was headed by week's end, slightly ahead of last year but 3 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Heading was complete or nearly complete in all estimating States except Idaho and Montana, where despite double-digit head development during the week, progress remained 10 and 16 percentage points behind normal, respectively. Overall, 83 percent of the spring wheat crop was reported in good to excellent condition, up slightly from ratings last week and 9 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Other Crops: By July 25, eighty percent of this year's peanut crop was pegging, 11 percentage points ahead of last year and 3 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Peg development was rapid throughout much of the region as mostly favorable growing conditions prevailed during the week. Overall, 69 percent of the peanut crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 3 percentage points better than the same time last year.