Farmers continue to worry about stressed crops as the growing season winds down, with ratings and yield projections reported to Feedback From The Field declining again last week. While the variation in yield potential remains wide, median yields reported in August so far are in line with estimates made Aug. 10 by USDA.

The median corn yield is 177.5 bushels per acre, with beans at 51 bpa, both just a touch lighter than USDA found. But corn yields last week alone ranged from just 60 bpa in drought-hit northwest Missouri to 215 bpa in central Indiana and north central Iowa. The soybean variation ran from 25 bpa in Missouri to a 75 bpa estimate noted in Louisiana.

“Bone dry,” said one of the Missouri producers whose corn is drying down rapidly. “Soybeans at a standstill.”

“Very dry,” was all a Nebraska farmer needed to sum up 90-bushel corn and 41 bpa soybeans.

Even in states with good yields like Illinois, all wasn’t perfect. “Big cracks forming in the ground, said a producer south of Chicago with 158 bpa  corn and 42 bpa beans.

But the Indiana farm with 215 bpa corn saw crops turn around after a bumpy start. “After a dry May, the rains have been "just in time" and very adequate to keep this crop going,” was the report. “The cool down in mid-July extended kernel fill so kernel depth and test weight should be good.”

What’s happening out your way? Click this Feedback From The Field link to rate crops in your area and provide comments about your fields and yield estimates. We’ll update reports frequently with the interactive map below that lets you see what other growers are saying around the country. Click the box in the upper left-hand corner to bring up the weekly index; scroll down to see the most current week.

Follow along with the season here:

Feedback From The Field - Aug. 9, 2018 - Farmers see good corn and soybean crops so far.

Feedback From The Field - Aug. 6, 2018 - Corn fades, beans come on.

Feedback From The Field - July 25, 2018 - Crops grow, so do worries.

Feedback From The Field - July 16, 2018 - Growers sound more optimistic about crops.

Feedback From The Field - July 12, 2018 - Yield potential ranges from boom to bust.

Feedback From The Field - July 9, 2018 - Growers voice concerns about conditions.

Feedback From The Field - July 2, 2018 - Crops hang on despite hot week.

Feedback From the Field - June 25, 2018 - Heavy rains help some fields, hurt others growers say.

Feedback From the Field - June 18, 2018 - Corn ratings slip after a hot week with hit-or-miss rains.

Feedback From the Field - June 11, 2018 - Corn improves but weekend rains could be crucial.

Feedback From the Field - June 4, 2018 - Crop conditions hold steady, but not as strong as USDA’s ratings.

Feedback From the Field - May 21, 2018 - Will corn planting progress meet the market’s models?

Feedback From the Field - May 14, 2018 - Planting progress hit or miss in the second week of May.

Feedback From the Field - May 7, 2018 - Growers make rapid planting progress outside the far north.

Feedback From the Field - May 2, 2018 - Some growers welcome this week’s rains.

Feedback From The Field - April 30, 2018 - More growers get into the field over the weekend.

Feedback From The Field - April 23, 2018 - April ending with cold, wet conditions stalling planting.

Feedback From The Field - April 19, 2018 - Rain, snow, fires and mud – this spring has it all.

Feedback From The Field - April 18, 2018 - Welcome to springtime in the Midwest.

Feedback From The Field - April 16, 2018 - Interactive tool helps growers share conditions.