RFD-TV Weekly Crop Progress and Livestock Production Regional Update

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Heat and uneven rainfall reduced corn and soybean condition ratings during the week ending July 26, even as crop development remained ahead of normal. Nationally, 63 percent of corn and soybeans were rated good to excellent, while winter wheat harvest reached 81 percent and spring wheat harvest began.

This recap uses the latest completed reporting week. USDA’s next Crop Progress report, covering conditions through August 2, is scheduled for release Monday afternoon.

Great Plains

Kansas: Winter wheat harvest approached completion while corn, soybeans, and sorghum moved deeper into reproductive development. Heat and limited moisture increased stress in drier areas, and producers continued scouting sorghum for headworms and other late-season pests.
Nebraska: Corn and soybean development remained ahead of average, but moisture availability varied sharply between irrigated and dryland fields. Western and northern producers faced greater drought concerns, while irrigation demand increased across major corn-growing areas.
North Dakota: Spring wheat and durum moved toward maturity under generally warm conditions. Crop quality remained mixed where earlier dryness reduced yield potential, and harvest activity was expected to expand during early August.
South Dakota: Corn and soybeans advanced quickly, but heat increased moisture needs during pollination and pod development. Pasture and hay conditions remained uneven, leaving livestock producers to monitor forage supplies and late-summer grazing capacity.
Oklahoma: Summer crop management centered on drought, sorghum headworm scouting, and livestock forage needs. Oklahoma State University Extension continued urging producers to monitor sorghum pests and manage grazing carefully as volatile weather limited dependable forage growth.
Texas: Cotton, corn, sorghum, and pasture conditions continued to vary widely by region. Irrigated producers faced rising water demand, while dryland fields depended on scattered rainfall to maintain boll development, grain fill, and grazing supplies.

Midwest

Iowa: Severe weather, extreme humidity, and pockets of dryness created increasing crop variability. State officials reported generally strong crops, but noted wind, hail, excessive rainfall, and persistent dryness had damaged some fields and left many areas needing rain.
Illinois: Corn and soybeans progressed rapidly, but heat reduced condition ratings in areas missing timely rainfall. Producers monitored pollination, pod set, disease pressure, and whether late-July storms provided enough moisture to protect yield potential.
Indiana: Reproductive development remained ahead of average, while crop conditions depended heavily on local rainfall. Fields with adequate moisture retained strong potential, but lighter soils and missed rainfall showed increasing heat stress.
Ohio: Corn and soybeans continued developing under generally favorable conditions, although scattered dryness increased stress in some areas. Wheat harvest neared completion, allowing producers to shift attention toward double-crop soybeans and late-season disease management.
Missouri: Heat increased moisture demand for corn, soybeans, cotton, and pasture. Irrigated ground held an advantage, while dryland fields faced greater yield risk where rainfall remained limited.

Delta & South

Arkansas: Rice, soybeans, cotton, and corn moved through key reproductive stages. Irrigation demand remained high, and producers watched for insect pressure, disease development, and the cost of maintaining water supplies.
Louisiana: Corn harvest began expanding while rice harvest approached in southern production areas. Hot, humid conditions supported rapid crop development but also increased disease and insect management requirements.
Mississippi: Corn harvest began unusually early after one of the earliest planting seasons on record. Mississippi State University Extension reported that much of the crop looked strong, although overlapping corn and soybean maturity could create equipment, labor, drying, and delivery pressure.
Tennessee: Corn, soybeans, cotton, tobacco, and hay benefited where rainfall was timely, but heat increased moisture demand. Producers continued managing pasture quality and preparing for early corn harvest in more advanced fields.
Kentucky: Corn and soybean development advanced under warm conditions. Livestock producers watched pasture regrowth and hay inventories as high temperatures increased water requirements and reduced forage growth in drier counties.
Alabama: Scattered rainfall supported cotton, peanuts, soybeans, and pasture, but coverage remained uneven. Producers continued fungicide, insecticide, and irrigation decisions as crops entered yield-determining stages.
Georgia: Peanut pegging and cotton boll development advanced, while corn harvest expanded in southern areas. High humidity and frequent showers increased disease-management needs where moisture was abundant.

West & Southwest

Arizona: Irrigated cotton, alfalfa, vegetables, and specialty crops remained dependent on reliable water delivery during extreme summer heat. Producers also managed livestock heat stress and higher water requirements.
California: Harvest continued for fruits, vegetables, nuts, and forage crops, while irrigation remained the central operational concern. Dairy and livestock producers balanced heat abatement, feed costs, and water availability.
New Mexico: Rangeland and dryland crop conditions remained tied to scattered monsoon rainfall. Areas receiving storms saw short-term forage improvement, while missed areas continued facing limited grazing and stock-water supplies.
Nevada: Irrigated hay and pasture production continued, but heat raised water demand and reduced flexibility where allocations were limited. Ranchers monitored forage availability and wildfire conditions.
Utah: Hay harvest and irrigation continued under hot conditions. Dryland grain and pasture performance varied according to elevation, stored soil moisture, and access to summer rainfall.

Northwest & Northern Rockies

Washington: Wheat harvest expanded across the Columbia Basin and eastern production areas. Washington State University continued monitoring small-grain performance and reported soilborne wheat mosaic virus in multiple Whitman County locations, adding another issue for future variety and field-management decisions.
Oregon: Wheat, hay, grass seed, potatoes, and specialty crops moved toward or through harvest. Water conservation, irrigation efficiency, drought resilience, and wildfire prevention remained major priorities for growers.
Idaho: Winter wheat and barley harvest expanded, while potatoes and sugar beets continued developing under irrigation. Dairy and livestock operations faced high cooling and water requirements during hot weather.
Montana: Winter wheat harvest began advancing while spring wheat and barley approached maturity. Dryness reduced yield prospects in some areas, and ranchers continued evaluating pasture and hay supplies.
Wyoming: Haying and small-grain development continued amid variable moisture. Rangeland conditions depended heavily on local thunderstorms, with hotter areas showing declining forage quality.

Northeast

Pennsylvania: Corn condition remained among the strongest in the major producing states, but rainfall distribution remained uneven. Penn State scouting found soybean disease levels generally low, although risk for frogeye leaf spot increased in western Pennsylvania.
New York: Corn, soybeans, hay, vegetables, and dairy forage crops advanced under warm conditions. Farms with adequate rainfall benefited from rapid growth, while drier areas faced declining pasture and forage regrowth.
Maine: Potato, blueberry, vegetable, and forage producers managed warm weather and developing insect pressure. Spotted wing drosophila was detected in traps in southern Maine berry fields, increasing the need for monitoring as fruit matured.
Vermont: Hay harvest and corn development continued, while dairy farms monitored forage quantity and quality. Rainfall remained beneficial where fields had dried enough to support machinery.

Upper Midwest & Great Lakes

Minnesota: Corn development ran about one week ahead of normal, but hot and increasingly dry conditions began stressing some fields. University of Minnesota Extension reported emerging spider mite problems in soybeans and said small-grain harvest had begun with encouraging early yields and quality.
Wisconsin: Corn and soybeans remained among the better-rated crops nationally, but heat increased moisture demand. Dairy farms continued forage harvest while monitoring corn silage development and feed inventories.
Michigan: Corn, soybeans, dry beans, fruit, and vegetable crops advanced under variable rainfall. Producers continued disease and insect scouting while preparing for wheat and early vegetable harvests.

Far North, Hawaii & U.S. Territories

Alaska: Hay, vegetables, potatoes, barley, and oats continued developing under the state’s short growing season. Producers focused on harvest timing, drying opportunities, and protecting crops from rapidly changing weather.
Hawaii: Tropical crops, livestock, and forage production remained shaped by rainfall differences between windward and leeward areas. Drier ranching regions continued managing pasture pressure and water availability.
Puerto Rico: Plantain, coffee, fruit, vegetable, and livestock operations remained exposed to intense heat and tropical rainfall variability. Producers continued watching storm development, soil saturation, erosion, and transportation access.