Single digit corn silking in 7 states, says USDA

In the Crop Progress report for the week ending July 7, USDA reported that seven states have single digit corn silking. For five of those states, it was the first reported corn silking of the season.

Colorado

According to USDA, 3% of Colorado’s corn was silking as of July 7. It’s the first silking reported for the state this season. Last year at this time, none of the state’s corn was silking. The five-year average is 3%.

In terms of the condition of the state’s corn crop, USDA rated 6% of Colorado’s corn very poor, 11% poor, 27% fair, 48% good, and 8% excellent.  

Michigan

USDA reported Monday 9% of Michigan’s corn was silking, a significant jump from no silking reported the week prior. That’s notably ahead of historical averages: Last year at this time, only 2% of the state’s corn was silking, and the five-year average is 1%.

Michigan’s corn is largely in good shape, with only 1% rated poor or worse. Overall, USDA rated the state’s corn as follows: 0% very poor, 1% poor, 26% fair, 59% good, and 14% excellent.

Minnesota

As of July 7, 4% of Minnesota’s corn was silking, an increase of 1 percentage point since the week prior. When compared to last year at this time, corn silking for the state is lagging behind. At this time last year, 12% of the state’s corn was silking. Still, corn silking for the state is nearly on par with the five-year average of 6%.

USDA rated 3% of Minnesota’s corn very poor, 7% poor, 31% fair, 47% good, and 12% excellent.

North Dakota

As for North Dakota, USDA reported that 3% of the state’s corn was silking as of July 7, which was an increase of 2 percentage points for the week. It is a decrease of 4 percentage points compared to last year at this time and 1 percentage point shy of the five-year average.

Corn in North Dakota rated as follows: 1% very poor, 5% poor, 24% fair, 65% good, and 5% excellent.

Pennsylvania

As of the week ending July 7, 5% of Pennsylvania’s corn was silking, the first reported for the state this season. There was no corn silking reported for the state at this time a year ago, and the five-year average is just 1%.

The condition of Pennsylvania’s corn as of July 7 was 1% very poor, 2% poor, 16% fair, 68% good, and 13% excellent.

South Dakota

USDA reported that 4% of South Dakota’s corn was silking as of July 7, the first of the season for the state. That’s comparable to the state’s corn silking reported at this time last year (5%) and to the five-year average of 3%.

According to USDA, the condition of South Dakota’s corn was as follows: 2% very poor, 5% poor, 21% fair, 54% good, and 18% excellent.  

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, 3% of the corn crop was silking as of July 7, compared to none reported the week prior. That’s up 2 percentage points and 1 percentage point compared to this time last year and the five-year average, respectively. 

USDA rated 3% of Wisconsin’s corn very poor, 6% poor, 29% fair, 46% good, and 16% excellent.