Corn and Soybean Progress Boosted by Favorable Weather

The USDA released its weekly Crop Progress report on August 24, 2026, providing insights into the conditions of major crops across key producing states. The report showed that corn has reached the dough stage at a rate of 86%, surpassing both the previous week's figure and the five-year average. This progress is attributed to favorable weather conditions.

The condition ratings for corn were also reported, with 14% being rated very poor, 43% poor, 26% fair, 11% good, and 6% excellent. These figures are slightly improved from the previous week's ratings but remain below those of the same period last year. Soybeans are another major crop that is showing improvement, with 91% having reached the blooming stage, exceeding both the previous week's figure and the five-year average.

The condition ratings for soybeans were also reported, with 12% being rated very poor, 48% poor, 28% fair, 9% good, and 3% excellent. These figures remain largely unchanged from the previous week but are slightly improved from the same period last year. Other crops such as cotton, sorghum, peanuts, rice, spring wheat, barley, and pasture and range conditions were also included in the report.