Forecasts for warmer and drier weather towards the end of July rallied markets off gut-wrenching lows. But farmers reporting conditions on average saw a marked improvement in the first week of the month, after a slow start to the growing season.

“Crops are excellent,” gushed a grower in west central Minnesota. “Best I have ever seen in 75 years and now full soil moisture for rest of growing season. We will max it out!!”

Another Minnesota grower said he’d travelled to other nearby states and crops overall were faring well. “Crops look good overall," said the grower. "Pockets of really poor or outstanding crops. Nothing to be concerned about.”

The average rating for corn rose to close to the level report by USDA last week, when 75% of the crop nationwide was rated good to excellent. (Photo: venturecx/Thinkstock)

The average rating for corn rose to close to the level report by USDA last week, when 75% of the crop nationwide was rated good to excellent.  That progress matched a marked improvement in the vegetative health index for corn and soybeans last week, which moved closer to average levels for both crops.

Soybeans didn’t fare quite as well as corn, which USDA also noted last week. Still, more than half the growers said fields were in good to excellent shape with the overall condition well above average.

But variable weather during the first half of the season has some growers concerned, as their conditions have been far from ideal.

“Too much rain in the spring to plant on time,” said a farmer in Ohio, which saw more than its share of problems. “Too little after it was planted, and now too much rain all at once is making things a challenge this year.”

Added a Missouri producer: “From drought to flood in the last few days.”

Click the large green dots on the interactive map to see reports from this week, with smaller dots showing previous comments.

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Feedback from the Field - June 30, 2016 - Crop conditions ease as corn enters crucial test

Feedback from the Field - June 27, 2016 - Many areas still short of rain

Feedback from the Field - June 17, 2016 - Wheat looks great, but corn and soybeans start to wilt in the heat

Feedback from the Field - June 13, 2016 - Crops off to good start, but need rain

Feedback from the Field - June 8, 2016 - Growers say heat will help some crops, hurt others.

Feedback from the Field - June 6, 2016 - Crops improve, but growers see too much or too little rain

Feedback from the Field - May 31, 2016 - Corn slowly improves ahead of first USDA ratings

Feedback from the Field - May 25, 2016 - Goldilocks spring hard to find in Corn Belt

Feedback from the Field - May 23, 2016 - Corn Belt dries out a little as mid-May deadline arrives

Feedback from the Field - May 18, 2016 - Growers worry about frost damage from weekend's chill

Feedback from the Field - May 14, 2016 - Growers hope to get back into the field

Feedback from the Field - May 13, 2016 - Planting delays grab market's attention

Feedback from the Field - May 11, 2016 - It's deju vu all over again as wet weather continues

Feedback from the Field - May 9, 2016 - Weather challenges farmers in eastern Midwest

Feedback from the Field - May 3, 2016 - Growers say wet weather stalls planting

Feedback from the Field - May 2, 2016 - Some crops off to slow start as wet and cold hamper planting