Corn likes heat and moisture. It's generally received plenty of both in the Upper Midwest recently, and so the crop is developing nicely, a new government report says.
Spring wheat and soybeans, as well as corn, are progressing well on balance in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the weekly crop progress report released June 25 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The new report reflects conditions on June 24. Widespread showers and temperatures in the high 80 and low 90s from June 18 to June 24 were beneficial to the region's corn crop overall, though some places received heavy, excessive rains.
Corn was doing especially well in Minnesota. Eighty-four percent of corn in the state was rated good or excellent, with 14 percent fair and 2 percent poor.
North Dakota's corn crop was nearly as good, with 82 percent rated good or excellent, 16 percent fair and 2 percent poor.
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In South Dakota, where many farmers battled difficult planting conditions this spring and excessive rains this summer, 70 percent of corn is in good or excellent shape, 26 percent fair and 4 percent poor.
Oats and barley generally are doing well across the region, the NASS report says.
Here's a state-by-state look at spring wheat and soybeans
Spring wheat
Montana - Seventy-seven percent was rated good or excellent, with 15 percent in fair condition and 8 percent in poor shape.
Minnesota - Eighty-six percent was in good or excellent condition, with 14 percent fair.
North Dakota - Eighty percent was in good or excellent shape, with 17 percent rated fair and 3 percent rated poor.
South Dakota - Fifty-seven percent was rated good or excellent, 33 percent fair and 10 percent poor.
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Soybeans
North Dakota - Eighty percent was in good or excellent shape, with 18 percent rated fair and 2 percent poor.
South Dakota - Sixty-five percent was rated good or excellent, with 28 percent in fair shape and 7 percent poor.
Minnesota - Seventy-nine percent was in good or excellent shape, with 19 percent rated fair and 2 percent poor.
