ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, U.S. — U.S. corn acres doughing surpassed the five-year average the week of Aug. 3, according to a report released Aug. 10 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With 96% of corn acres having achieved the silking stage as of Aug. 9 and 51% of corn acres in the doughing stage, the overall corn crop condition held strong with 70% of acres now rated in good or excellent condition.
 
After trailing the five-year average of acres having achieved the doughing stage for weeks, the acres having reached the doughing stage moved one point ahead of that number by Aug. 9. In this first estimate of the acres in the dented stage, the progress trailed the five-year average by six points.

 
Crop condition estimates remained approximately the same with one point added to the percentage of the crop rated excellent this week. At this point last year, 73% of corn acres were in good or excellent condition.