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Soybeans almost finished setting pods

Soybeans almost finished setting pods

Louisiana is only state to report complete podding

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The 2018 U.S. soybean crop has nearly completed the podding stage.

About 91 percent of American soybean acres have podded, the USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin report says. That number is up from 84 percent last week.

Only soybeans in Louisiana are completely podded, while crops in 10 other states are more than 90 percent podded.

Soybeans in North Carolina are 65 percent podded, which the lowest progress among the 18 primary production states.

The USDA ranked 65 percent of the total soybean crop as good to excellent.

Corn

The U.S. corn crop is reaching the halfway point of the dented stage.

About 44 percent of American corn acres are in this stage, the USDA says. That number is up from 26 percent last week.

On a state level, corn in Texas is the furthest along at 82 percent dented.

Corn in Colorado is only eight percent dented, which is the lowest among the 18 primary corn states.

The USDA ranked 68 percent of the total corn crop as good to excellent.

Wheat

U.S. farmers are almost finished with their winter wheat harvests.

Growers have combined about 97 percent of the winter wheat crop, the USDA says. That figure is up from 94 percent last week.

American producers have finished winter wheat harvest in a majority of the 18 primary production states.

Winter wheat in Washington is only 84 percent harvested, which is the lowest progress in the nation.

U.S. growers also continue to harvest their spring wheat acres.

About 60 percent of the 2018 spring wheat harvest is complete, the USDA says. That represents a 25 percent increase from last week.

Growers in South Dakota have combined 91 percent of their spring wheat, which is the highest among the six primary spring wheat states.

Farmers in Montana have completed 45 percent of their spring wheat harvest, which is the lowest of the six documented states.

The USDA ranked 74 percent of the spring wheat crop as good to excellent.

Suitable fieldwork days

Farmers in California, Nevada, Oregon and Utah experienced seven suitable fieldwork days for the week ending Aug. 19.

The states with the fewest suitable fieldwork days during the same week were New York (2.5), Connecticut (3) and Pennsylvania (3.5).

Weekly precipitation levels

State

Precipitation (inches)

Weather Station

Illinois

1.35

Springfield

Indiana

2.35

Fort Wayne

Iowa

2.14

Dubuque

Kentucky

3.99

Louisville

Michigan

0.81

Lansing

Missouri

1.16

Springfield

New York

4.25

Binghamton

Pennsylvania

6.64

Wilkes-Barre

Tennessee

2.05

Nashville

The next Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin will be released Aug. 28.


Trending Video

USDA Feb Crop Report a WIN for Soybeans + 1 Year Trade Truce Extension

Video: USDA Feb Crop Report a WIN for Soybeans + 1 Year Trade Truce Extension


USDA took Trumps comments that China would buy more U.S. soybeans seriously and headline news that the U.S./China trade truce would be extended when Trump/Xi meet in the first week of April was a BIG WIN for soybeans this week! 2026 “Mini” U.S. ethanol boom thanks to 45Z + China’s ban of phosphates from Feb. – August of 2026 will not help lower fertilizer prices anytime soon! 30 mmt of Chinese corn harvest is of poor quality and maybe a technical breakout in wheat futures.

*Apologies! Where we talk about the latest CFTC update as of 10th Feb 2026, managed money funds covered their net short position in canola to the tune of +42,746 week-on-week to flip to net long 145 contracts and not (as we mistakenly said) +90,009 wk/wk to 47,408.