Of the five leading states, which grow nearly 60 pct of the crop, Illinois and Nebraska are up to date but Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota are far behind. Iowa, the No 1 state, usually is halfway through planting by this time of the year. Instead, its farmers have planted 23 pct of their corn. Soybean planting also is behind normal a 5 pct planted vs the usual 11 pct.
The winter wheat crop worsened in condition – 38 pct is rated poor or very poor, compared to 34 pct a week ago. Arid, windy weather in the Oklahoma Panhandle produced conditions “similar to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s,” crop scouts said according to Agrimoney. USDA said 73 pct of Oklahoma’s winter wheat was in poor or very poor condition. In Kansas, the No 1 wheat state, 47 pct was poor or very poor.