WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Seventy-two per cent of the corn crop in the 18 major U.S. states was rated good to excellent as of Aug. 17, a one percentage point drop from the previous week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its most recent Crop Progress report released Aug. 18.

Rated very poor to poor was 8% in the latest week compared with 7% the previous week. A year ago, 61% was rated good to excellent and 13% was rated very poor to poor, the USDA said.

Conditions of the soybean crop in the 18 major states as of Aug. 17 improved from the previous week. Seventy-one percent of the crop was rated good to excellent compared with 70% the previous week. Rated very poor to poor was 6% in the latest week compared with 7% the previous week, the USDA said. A year ago, 62% was rated good to excellent and 10% was rated very poor to poor.

The USDA said 70% of the corn crop in the 18 major states was in the dough stage as of Aug. 17 compared with 63% as the five-year average. A year ago on the same date, 49% of the crop was in the dough stage.

Twenty-two percent of the corn crop was dented as of Aug. 16 compared with 27% as the five year average, the USDA said. A year ago, 10% of the crop was in the dough stage.

Ninety-five percent of soybeans in the 18 major states had reached the blooming stage as of Aug. 17 compared with 95% as the five year average for the date, the USDA said. Setting pods was 83% of the crop compared with 79% the previous week.

The spring wheat crop in the six major states was rated 68% good to excellent in the week ended Aug. 17 compared with 70% the previous week. A year ago, 66% of the crop was rated good to excellent.

Spring wheat harvest was 17% complete in the latest week compared with 33% as the five-year average, the USDA said. A year ago on the same date, 16% of the crop was harvested.

Sixty-six percent of the oats crop in the nine major states was harvested as of Aug. 17 compared with 76% as the five-year average, the USDA said. A year ago on the same date, 66% of the crop was harvested.

The rice crop in the six major states was 88% headed as of Aug. 17 compared with 81% as the five-year average, the USDA said. Seven percent of the crop was harvested as of Aug. 17 compared with 11% as the five-year average. Seventy-four percent of the crop was rated good to excellent in the latest week compared to 73% in the previous week and 70% on the same date a year ago, the USDA said.