Despite Drought, Corn Crop Still Ahead of Last Year, NCGA Notes (8-1-06)

The National Agriculture Statistics Service’s (NASS) latest crop report has the corn crop condition receding slightly from the previous week, mainly because of drought conditions across the Corn Belt. However, the overall condition is still ahead of last year, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) notes.

Seven percent of the crop is classified as “very poor,” up two points from last week. Eleven percent is considered “poor,” up one point from last week.

Fifteen percent of the crop is rated as “Excellent,” 41 percent is “Good” and 26 percent is “Fair.” During the same week in 2005, 14 percent was excellent, 39 percent was good, 27 percent was fair, 13 percent was poor and 7 percent was very poor.

“There is no doubt the prolonged drought is affecting the corn crop,” said Bill Chase, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) chairman of the Production and Stewardship Action Team. “However, it is important to note the report indicates the crop is better than last year at this time, and we produced 11.112 billion bushels of corn, the second-highest harvest ever.”

Chase is from Wolsey, S.D., one of the worst-hit drought areas. Fifty percent of the South Dakota crop is classified as poor or very poor. Texas has also been hit hard by drought. Thirty percent of the crop is very poor, and 18 percent is poor. In North Dakota, 14 percent of the crop is very poor, and 18 percent is poor.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Drought Monitor, areas of South Dakota and Texas are experiencing “exceptional drought.” Parts of corn-growing states experiencing “extreme drought” include: Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

Kentucky corn growers appear to have the best crop, with 42 percent rated as excellent and 43 percent labeled as good. North Carolina growers also have a good crop, with 25 percent rated as excellent and 51 percent listed as good. North Carolina is the only state with zero percent of the corn crop in very poor condition.

More than 90 percent of the corn crop is silking. Twenty-five percent of the crop is doughing, up 12 percent from last week.

NASS released data on dented corn for the first time this year. Overall, 5 percent of the crop has dented. Texas leads the way with 65 percent of the corn dented. Tennessee has 50 percent of its corn dented.

To view the NASS report, click here.