USDA Lowers Corn Crop Condition Ratings Amid South Dakota Yield Worries

Corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade rose by 2 to 3 cents per bushel after the USDA reduced its condition ratings for the nation's corn crops in its weekly report.

The USDA rated 60% of the corn crop in good-to-excellent condition as of Sunday, down 1 percentage point from the previous week. This marks the lowest rating for the 33rd week of the calendar year since 2023.

Scouts on an annual tour of top U.S. producing states found that South Dakota's corn yield prospects are lower than last year and the three-year average, following a hot and dry summer.