Arizona Daily Star
07-06-06
Hot, dry weather hurts corn crops
The condition of the U.S. corn crop worsened last week as hot and dry weather
from South Dakota to Georgia increased stress on plants that had received less
than 25 percent of normal precipitation the past 30 days.
Meanwhile, the condition of the U.S. cotton crop improved after three weekly
declines. The crop was rated 41 percent good or excellent, up from 38 percent a
week earlier and 57 percent a year earlier.
About 68 percent of the corn crop was rated good or excellent as of yesterday,
compared with 71 percent a week earlier and 62 percent a year earlier, the
Department of Agriculture said in a report. About 64 percent of the soybeans
received the top ratings, down from 67 a week earlier and up from 58 percent a
year earlier.
Agronomists say the critical time for corn will be in the next two weeks, when
most of the plants begin to pollinate. "Corn will be using about a third of an inch
of water a day right during pollination," said Roger Elmore, extension corn
specialist at Iowa State University in Ames.