How Do You Spell "Plummet" - Crop Conditions Dive In Past Week; U.S. Corn In Top 2 Grades Drops 8%
More state-by-state ratings at article.
How do you spell plummet? That is certainly what happened to the crop rating for corn in the past week, as USDA dropped the 2012 corn crop from 56 percent in good to excellent condition to 48 percent good to excellent. The amount of corn that is now considered in poor to very poor condition increased from 14 percent last week to 22 percent this week nationally. One month ago, the rating was 72 percent good to excellent and only 5 percent in the poor to very poor category. The downhill slide is gaining momentum from the Cornbelt blast furnace.
In Illinois, topsoil moisture is still a major concern for the entire state. It is currently rated at 52 percent very short, 37 percent short and only 11 percent adequate. Corn conditions were rated at 12 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 23 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. The soybean crop has withstood the conditions slightly better than the corn crop with 11 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 26 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.
In Indiana, several areas of the state experienced record setting heat during the week with temperatures reaching as high as 107 degrees in some southern counties. This past June was the third driest in Indiana, according to records dating back to 1930, falling only behind 1988 and 1933. Only 1.29 inches of rain fell across the state during June which was just 31 percent of normal precipitation for the month. 62 percent of the soil is listed very short of moisture with 29 percent in the short category, leaving only 9 percent for adequate. 50 percent of the corn is in poor to very poor condition, and only 19 percent good to excellent. This is the worst condition rating for corn at this time of year since 1988 when none of the crop was rated good to excellent. Soybeans are rated 43 percent poor to very poor and only 20 percent good to excellent.
In Iowa although it saw precipitation early and again late in the week, the bulk of the week was sunny and hot with record high temperatures experienced in many areas. Additional rain is needed to relieve stress on crops and improve conditions. Topsoil moisture levels declined to 28 percent very short, 45 percent short, 27 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. South Central Iowa is the driest with 91 percent of the topsoil moisture rated short to very short. Corn condition is reported at 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Soybean condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 10 percent excellent.
EDIT
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/Crop-conditions-continue-to-slide-161197695.html?ref=695
= new reply since forum marked as read
I live in central Iowa, where a lot of corn is grown. I can walk out of my house and hit a cornfield, no matter which direction I travel. These fields are beautiful and so lush and green. I love living here. However, the weather has been horrendous. We've had a dry spring and early summer. The heat index has been more than 100 degrees for the past several days. The weather man just said that to expect continued 100+ heat index well into this week and weekend. With no rain in the forecast.
It was so hot yesterday, I left *the pool* with heat exhaustion. It's absolutely miserable. You can't go outside for more than ten minutes, without feeling overwhelmed.
Whatever crop forecast was issued for this part of the country--will only worsen with this weather. And there is no end in sight.
These extended 100+ heat-index temps are supposed to break records. We've had higher temps before, but never for so many consecutive days.
Send some ice cubey thoughts our way!!! 
The corn fields around here are starting to curl up pretty badly. Some corn looks "ok", but a lot is curling. The beans look a bit wilty.
The weather IS horrendous. More than a week of 90-100 degree temps already. Dew points in the 70's. Today through Friday are supposed to be the worst of all with temps at or above 100 and heat indices up to 115. Nighttime lows only reaching the mid to upper 70's. We had a VERY mild, dry winter and a dry spring. And we had precious little rain in June. Rain chances for the next several days are almost nil.
Everything is baking to a crisp. 
