While corn in the dough stage improved from 71% a week ago to 81% as of Sept. 1, the crop continues to trail last year’s development for this date, which was 95%, as well as the 5 year average of 93%. Corn dented is even further behind, with only 41% of this year’s crop at this stage vs. 73% last year on this date and 5 year average of 63%.

The latest Crop Progress report from USDA shows a small improvement in the condition of both corn and soybean crops as of Aug. 25. But, as expected, both remain significantly behind both last year's and the 5 year average when it comes to pace of development.

There was very little change in the overall condition of this year’s corn and soybean crop during the past week, but both continue to lag crop conditions at this point a year ago, according to USDA’s Aug. 19 Crop Progress report.

USDA reports that, as of July 28, 58% of corn acres are silking. This up for 35% in the week prior, but far beyond the 90% a year earlier and the 5 year average of 83% for this date.

USDA noted little change in the overall condition of U.S. corn and soybeans in its July 22 report, but neither crop has been able to close much of the gap when it comes to their maturity levels.

Only 17% of this year's corn crop is silking and only 22% of soybeans are blooming.

For all intent and purposes, all of the 2019 U.S. corn and soybean crops that will be planted are in the ground, but the overall progress of this year’s crops continues to trail where they would typically be at this point.