US Drought Monitor: “37% of US Corn Mature, 38% of US Soybeans Dropping Leaves”
Open weather across much of the country favored summer crop maturation and fieldwork, including
harvest efforts and winter wheat planting according to a report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, produced
by a consortium of four agencies of the federal government.
By September 12, more than one-third (37 percent) of the U.S. corn was fully mature, while 38 percent
of the soybeans were dropping leaves, versus respective 5-year averages of 31 and 29 percent.
Meanwhile, among the 13 major production states that have planted some winter wheat, all except
Oregon were at or ahead of the 5-year average pace.
Short-term dryness (D0) has begun to expand across southern and eastern sections of the Corn Belt,
favoring summer crop maturation but reducing topsoil moisture. Meanwhile, long-term drought issues
persisted across the upper Midwest, despite some recent rainfall. By September 12, USDA reported
topsoil moisture was at least one-third very short to short in each Midwestern State except Wisconsin,
led by Indiana (47%). During the week ending September 12, very short to short values increased by
more than 10 percentage points in Indiana and Ohio.