Unfavorable Soil Moisture Levels across Corn Belt Affecting Corn and Soybean Crop Quality
Corn and soybean yields could be affected by the unfavorable soil moisture levels across most of the U.S. Corn Belt
According to a recent AgProfessional article, the combination of parched fields in the western Corn Belt and flooded fields in the east has led to lateness and increased stress for both corn and soybean crops.
The article, which highlights findings from the latest USDA “Crop Progress Report,” indicates just 17% of the nation’s corn crop (the majority of which is planted in the Corn Belt) is rated “excellent” and 49% “good,” marking a 2% slide from last week’s report.
However, the most significant year-over-year discrepancy is with regards to corn silking and soybean blooming. The article shows just 16% of corn is currently silking, well behind the 67% mark at this time in 2012 and the 35% 5 year average. Additionally, just 26% of the nation’s soybeans are blooming, compared to 40% for the 5-year average. These lagging totals can be attributed to the unfavorable field conditions across the Corn Belt, and has some experts concerned.
Darrel Good, University of Illinois Extension Economist, voices his concerns regarding this season’s soybean yields and late blooming in a recent Agriculture.com article. “There is considerable more uncertainty about soybean yields compared to corn, due to the lateness of the crop, especially in northern growing areas. We need a full growing season. We can’t afford an early frost on this crop.”
Unfavorable field conditions, both wet and dry, across much of the Corn Belt has led to crop lateness and some concerns surrounding corn and soybean yields in 2013 according to AgProfessional and Agriculture.com reports.