NAPERVILLE, Illinois, Sept 11 (Reuters) - All four Crop Watch producers in top U.S. states Iowa and Illinois reduced yield expectations for their soybeans this week, and three of the four trimmed corn ideas because unfavorably dry weather has been too frequent this season.
The latest dry spell, which began in mid-August, has featured periodic heat and has pushed U.S. Corn Belt crops toward maturity too quickly, preventing maximization of yields. Some Crop Watch producers say their crops are now shutting down, meaning weather benefits are waning.
Some Crop Watch fields got showers over the last week, including some heavier totals overnight into Monday morning, though many of the producers note that the rain is too little too late. Through Sunday afternoon, the highest weekly rainfall total of the 11 Crop Watch locations was 0.6 inch.
Most of the Corn Belt is expected to remain dry over the next couple weeks, with milder temperatures this week turning warmer next week. That is supportive for early harvest efforts as wet and cool conditions can cause delays, but fields that could still use the rain may not get the chance.
SOYBEANS
Crop Watch producers have been rating yield potential on a 1-to-5 scale with a score of 3 around farm average yield, 4 solidly above average and 5 among the best crops ever.
The 11-field average Crop Watch soybean yield fell to a season low of 3.57 from 3.77 last week, which was also the largest weekly reduction of the year. Western Iowa lost one full point this week while quarter-point cuts came in eastern Iowa, both Illinois locations, Minnesota and Nebraska.
Soy yield potential is now lower than in the same week in the previous two years, which was 3.59 in 2022 and 3.66 in 2021. Final Crop Watch soy yield across the Iowa and Illinois locations averaged 4.625 in 2021 and 4.375 in 2022.
This year, Iowa and Illinois soy expectations averaged as high as 4.5 in late July and early August, but this week they dropped to 3.69 from 4.13 last week. The western Iowa producer said what could have been the best bean crop ever is now trying to maintain average hopes.
Upside is possible for the eastern Iowa beans as up to an inch of rain fell between Sunday and Monday, but the producer is unsure yet if it helped. Nearly an inch in western Illinois Monday morning is not expected to improve Crop Watch yields but might benefit other later-maturing fields.
CORN
The 11-field, average Crop Watch corn yield fell to a season-low of 3.61 from 3.7 last week, an equal decline as in the previous two weeks. Quarter-point cuts were made this week in Nebraska, eastern Iowa and both Illinois locations.
Crop Watch corn yield was 3.68 this week last year and 3.82 in 2021.
The April 12-planted Kansas corn field was harvested Thursday with a yield score of 4.25, owing to early planting and pollination. Last year’s Kansas corn was planted and harvested on nearly the same dates, but the yield score ended at 1 due to poor weather.
Six of the 11 Crop Watch corn fields carry a yield score of 4 or better with a high of 4.5 in Ohio. North Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota corn yields are the lowest, in the 2-range. Only three soy fields have yields at 4 or above, including a 5 in Ohio. Minnesota and North Dakota soybeans are the lows, both in the 2-range.
The following are the states and counties of the 2023 Crop Watch corn and soybean fields: Kingsbury, South Dakota; Freeborn, Minnesota; Burt, Nebraska; Rice, Kansas; Audubon, Iowa; Cedar, Iowa; Warren, Illinois; Crawford, Illinois; Tippecanoe, Indiana; Fairfield, Ohio. The North Dakota corn is in Griggs County and the soybeans are in Stutsman County.
Photos of the Crop Watch fields can be tracked on my Twitter feed using handle @kannbwx. Karen Braun is a market analyst for Reuters. Views expressed above are her own. (Editing by Aurora Ellis)
