Soybean plantings condition deteriorated in the USA over the past week — USDA

As of August 18, 68% of soybeans in the US fields started setting pods vs. 90% last year, USDA reports.

On average over five years, 85% of soybeans in the US were at the R3 (Beginning Pod) growth stage at the reporting date. 92% of plantings vs. 99% are in R2 (Full Bloom) stage and 96% on average over the past five years.

Crops condition on the reporting date was as followed:

• excellent — 9% of plantings (16% in the comparative period of 2018);
• good — 44% (49%);
• fair — 33% (24%);
• poor — 10% (8%).

The data in the report represents 18 States planted 95% of the 2018 soybean acreage.

Karen Braun, Global Agriculture Columnist at Thomson Reuters, noted that such poor condition of crops was not even observed in the dryland of Nebraska.

Previously reported that by August 18 corn plantings' condition in the United States deteriorated. Thus, 10% of areas were in excellent condition vs. 20% last year.