Corn production for 2017-18 is currently forecast at 14.153 billion bushels, 100 million bushels less than the earlier forecast but still about 260 million bushels more than trade was expecting. There are plenty of private analysts pointing to the potential for downward revisions in yields in the September report and this divergent opinion was expressed in the pre-report survey.

It is possible that USDA will present a different picture in its next update, after all at that point USDA analysts will start to get objective field data, including ear weights. Windshield tours are nice and all but it is always hard to try to come up with national yield estimates without a large enough sample of data.

There have been some parts of the country with significant drought conditions this year while others have enjoyed above average weather. We have included two charts (bottom of the page) that USDA updates each week. We think they give you a good sense as to what areas have been impacted by drought and how important those regions are for the national corn and soybean harvest.

For the week ending 13 August, USDA reported that 62 per cent of the corn crop was in good or excellent condition, this was 12 points under last year’s levels and the lowest rating for this week since 2012. The rating is near the 10-year average but keep in mind that average includes 2012, which had a good/excellent rating of 23 per cent.

If we were to take that year out of the average as an outliner, then current condition rating would be about 5 points under the average. The current corn crop is also a bit behind last year’s in terms of maturity, with 61 per cent of the crop in the dough stage compared to 70 per cent last year and 16 per cent of the crop dented compared to 19 per cent a year ago and 20 per cent for the five year average.

Drought pressures in the Dakotas have increased and we now are seeing more corn acres in Iowa also come under some drought pressure. According to USDA, 10 per cent of corn acres in Iowa are now in either severe or extreme drought conditions while an additional 32 per cent of the corn planted acres in Iowa are in moderate drought.

For the entire country, 5 per cent of planted corn acres are in either extreme or severe drought and another 11 per cent are in moderate drought. So while the rating percentage has not slipped much in the last few weeks, one should recognise the impact that drought conditions may have on ear weights and final yields.

Summer weather takes a toll on pastures during this time of year and this year is not different. USDA currently estimates that 47 per cent of pastures and ranges are in excellent or good condition, 4 points less than the same time last year.

Current conditions still are above that 10 year average but, as with corn, one needs to recognise that the long run average includes that disastrous 2012 year when good/excellent rating dropped to under 20 per cent. Current pasture rating is the worst since 2013.

Deteriorating pasture conditions and deteriorating profit outlook could continue to put pressure on cow-calf operators, pushing calves to market earlier than expected and, in some cases, forcing producers to change their plans about expanding the beef cow herd.

Low feed costs and ample hay supplies have bolstered calf supplies in the last three years. But much as we would like that to be the case, weather patterns turn and invariably this directly impacts cattle production (pastures/corn) and hog / chicken production (corn).

https://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/Drought/AgInDrought.pdf

You can view the 11 August Daily Livestock Report by clicking here.