Crop Progress 9/5/2010

Corn Dough: Il. - 99% U.S. - 93%
Corn Denting: Il. - 93% U.S. - 86%
Corn Mature: Il. -57% U.S. - 33%
Corn Harvested Il. -7% U.S. - 6%
Soybeans dropping Leaves Il. 17% U.S. 19%
Corn Condition : Il. vp-p - 14% Vg-Ex - 60%
--------------------------:U.S. vp-p - 11% Vg-Ex - 69%
Soybean Condition: Il. vp-p - 10% Vg-ex - 63%
--------------------------:U.S vp-p- 12% Vg-ex - 64%

National Agricultural Summary

August 30 - September 5, 2010

Highlights: While temperatures in areas of the northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest fell to as many as 9 degrees below normal, much of New England recorded average temperatures as many as 15 degrees above normal. Elsewhere, much of the country experienced near-normal temperatures during the week. Unusually dry conditions dominated much of the Atlantic Coast States, Delta, Southwest, and Great Basin. Rain was prevalent across the Northern Tier, as well as in the Great Lakes region, Corn Belt, New England, and much of Texas. Most notably, rainfall in excess of 5 inches fell in southwestern Missouri, helping to replenish soil moisture levels.

Corn: By September 5, corn at or beyond the dough stage had advanced to 98 percent, 13 percentage points ahead of last year and 5 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average, with progress complete or nearly complete in all estimating States except Pennsylvania. Near-normal temperatures throughout much of the major corn-producing areas provided excellent conditions for continued rapid phenological development of this year's crop. By week's end, 86 percent of the corn crop was at or beyond the dented stage, 38 percentage points ahead of last year and 15 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average, while 33 percent of the crop was reported as mature, 25 percentage points ahead of last year and 14 percentage points ahead of the average. The most rapid progress was evident in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, where 23 percent or more of the crop matured during the week. Corn producers harvested 6 percent of the Nation's crop by September 5, four percentage points ahead of last year and 2 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest was most advanced in Tennessee, where progress was 50 percentage points ahead of last year and 32 percentage points ahead of normal. Overall, 69 percent of the corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition, down slightly from ratings last week but unchanged from the same time last year.

Soybeans: Nationwide, leaves were dropping on 19 percent of the soybean acreage by September 5, twelve percentage points ahead of last year and 4 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. In Indiana, leaf drop was 34 percentage points, or over two weeks, ahead of last year's pace, with 2 percent of the crop harvested. Overall, 64 percent of the soybean crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 4 percentage points below the same time last year.

Cotton: Nationally, bolls were opening on 41 percent of this year's cotton acreage, 17 percentage points ahead of last year and 10 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. In Texas, cotton in the High Plains continued to grow well as warm temperatures provided ample heat unit accumulation. By week's end, producers had harvested 6 percent of this year's acreage, on par with last year but slightly behind the 5-year average. Harvest was most advanced in Louisiana, where progress was nearly one month ahead of last year. Overall, 60 percent of the cotton crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 9 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Sorghum: By week's end, sorghum coloring had advanced to 74 percent complete, seventeen percentage points ahead of last year and 10 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. As warmer daytime temperatures prevailed in Kansas, the largest sorghum-producing State, one-quarter of the crop began coloring during the week. Sorghum at or beyond the mature stage reached 30 percent by September 5, on par with last year but 3 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Harvest began in Kansas during the week, ahead of both last year and the average. Nationally, 19 percent of the sorghum crop was harvested by week's end, 6 percentage points behind both last year and the 5-year average. Overall, 62 percent of the sorghum crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 13 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Rice: Heading of the Nation's rice crop advanced to 97 percent complete by week's end, 3 percentage points ahead of last year but on par with the 5-year average. Heading was complete in all estimating States except California. Harvest advanced 13 percentage points during the week, leaving progress, at 45 percent complete, 22 percentage points ahead of last year and 21 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. In Arkansas, the largest rice-producing State, harvest was 37 percentage points, or 27 days, ahead of last year and the earliest date on record that harvest had advanced to 47 percent complete. Overall, 68 percent of the rice crop was reported in good to excellent condition, unchanged from ratings last week but 5 percentage points better than the same time last year.

Small Grains: By September 5, barley producers had harvested 78 percent of this year's crop, 12 percentage points ahead of last year but 8 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Double-digit delays remained evident in Idaho and Montana, two of the three largest barley-producing States.

Seventy-six percent of the spring wheat crop was harvested by week's end, 20 percentage points ahead of last year but 9 percentage points behind the 5-year average. In Montana, producers harvested just 7 percent of their crop during the week, as increased rainfall limited fieldwork throughout much of the State.

Other Crops: Overall, 60 percent of the peanut crop was reported in good to excellent condition, up slightly from ratings last week but 12 percentage points below the same time last year.