Prior to today’s crop progress report, analysts were expecting USDA to note modest quality improvements for both the corn and soybean crops. However, the agency’s actual numbers fell a bit short of those hopes, as corn quality ratings held steady and soybean ratings slid a point lower.

Corn quality was largely steady last week, with 64% of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition through Sunday. Another 26% was rated fair (down a point from a week ago), with the remaining 10% rated poor or very poor (up a point from a week ago).

Physiologically, 15% of the crop is now silking, up from 7% last week. That’s still well behind 2021’s pace of 24% and the prior five-year average of 25%, however. And 2% of the crop has now reached the dough stage, versus the prior five-year average of 3%.

Soybean quality took an unexpected dip lower, with 62% of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition through Sunday (down one point from a week ago). Analysts were expecting to see ratings firm a point, in contrast. Another 29% of the crop is rated fair (up a point from last week), with the remaining 9% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from last week).

Nearly one-third (32%) of this season’s soybean crop is now blooming, up from 16% a week ago but behind 2021’s pace of 44% and the prior five-year average of 38%. And 6% of the crop is now blooming, versus the prior five-year average of 9%.

Spring wheat quality jumped 4% higher, with 70% of the crop now rated in good-to-excellent condition. Analysts were only expecting to see a one-point improvement. Another 25% of the crop is rated fair (down a point from last week), with the remaining 5% rated poor or very poor (down three points from last week). Physiologically, 44% of the crop is headed, which is well behind the prior five-year average of 77%.

The winter wheat harvest is nearly two-thirds complete after reaching 63% through Sunday. That’s up from 54% last week, and it’s also progressing a bit faster than 2021’s pace of 57% and the prior five-year average of 61%.

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