Mother Nature dished out plenty more hot, dry weather this past week, but USDA failed to lower corn and soybean quality ratings in its latest crop progress report, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through July 31. Spring wheat quality ratings trended two points higher last week, and winter wheat harvest progress continues to move closer to the finish line.

Corn quality ratings held steady last week, with 61% of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition through July 31. Analysts were expecting USDA to show a one-point drop, meantime. Another 25% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 14% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from last week).

Physiologically, 80% of the crop is now silking, up from 62% a week ago. That’s still behind 2021’s pace of 89% and the prior five-year average of 85%. And 26% has reached dough stage, versus the prior five-year average of 31%.

Soybean conditions firmed a point to 60% rated in good-to-excellent condition, even though analysts thought ratings would erode another point lower last week. Another 29% is rated fair (down a point from last week), with the remaining 11% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from a week ago).

The percentage of soybeans blooming moved from 64% a week ago to 79% through Sunday. That is slightly below the prior five-year average of 80%. And 44% is now setting pods, versus the prior five-year average of 51%.

Analysts expected spring wheat quality ratings to decline a point last week, but USDA showed ratings improve two points, instead, with 70% of the crop now in good-to-excellent condition. Another 23% is rated fair (down a point from last week), with the remaining 7% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from last week). Nearly all (97%) of this year’s crop is now headed, which is just under the prior five-year average of 99%.

The winter wheat harvest didn’t make a lot of headway, moving from 77% a week ago to 82% through July 31. That was slower than the average trade guess of 84%. It’s also behind 2021’s pace of 90% and the prior five-year average of 85%.

Click here for more data from the latest USDA crop progress report, including the agency’s observations about days suitable for fieldwork, topsoil moisture conditions and more.