This article is based primarily on the August 15, 2023, USDA Crop Bulletin which covers the week ending August 13, 2023. The USDA report usually becomes available on Tuesdays. I have omitted a number of graphics that are available in the full USDA Crop Bulletin which can be accessed HERE.
It now seems like an average crop especially given the recovery of the corn and soybean crops as the drought in the important growing area for those two crops let up.
The article includes a short international review of agricultural conditions. I wanted to include a report on technology use in farming but the August version does not come out until later today so I will add it then.
We begin with the National Agriculture Summary. The Tables below the summary have additional data. The boxes with my comments may be incomplete so for crops of interest check the data out yourself to be sure.
| Below is pretty much the same information in table format. However, there is additional information in these tables. |
| The condition of corn seems to have recovered from earlier this year to the same level as last year which is amazing. Peanuts seem to be in line with the five-year average. |
Looking at other crops.
| Soybeans have also improved their condition from earlier this year which is amazing. Sorghum is on schedule and in very good condition. Rice looks very good also. |
| Cotton is now in line with the five-year average, Spring wheat is not doing well. Barley could be doing better. |
| Winter Wheat is in live with the five-year average. Oats are slightly slow but not much. The pastures are a lot better than last year. |
Some additional detail is provided HEREIt is mostly some additional weeks of data and it is all in larger print. |
| The Crop Production Highlights are different from the progress reports as the Production Highlights are forecasts of the harvest. |
Let us take a look at the weather forecasts.
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– 10
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| 8
– 14 |
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| 3
– 4 |
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HAZARDS OUTLOOKS
Here is the latest Day 3 -7 and Day 8 – 14 hazards forecasts which update only on weekdays. I think it supplements the standard weather forecast.
| You can track the situation daily by accessing our Daily Weather forecast which you can access HERE. But the weather outlook maps in this article also update. Of interest are the areas of excessive heat. |
Looking at the month-to-date precipitation
| We see that the first twenty-seven days of July were mixed in the corn and soybean belts. |
The NASS Report of the Week.
Here is the LINK for the Report on Technology Use (Farm Computer Usage and Ownership).
International
| And here is the map which was provided this week. Conditions were generally good but a lull in the Indian Monsoon and something similar over in Indochina was less than desirable. |
| I am showing Mexico because it informs us of the progress of the Sonoran Monsoon which seems to have been reinvigorated a bit in Mexico but still not really impacting CONUS to any large extent. |
Sources of Information
Weekly Updates can be found HERE
and perhaps more directly HERE
Additional Useful Sources of Information
WASDE: World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates HERE
NASS Report Schedule HERE
Executive Briefings HERE
Economics and Prices HERE
Office of the Chief Economist HERE.
Drought information by crop HERE
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| I hope you found this article interesting and useful. |
