U.S. crop progress slow

WASHINGTON, July 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. corn crop is growing slowly compared with its historic average, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.

The 18 largest corn-producing states report 16 percent of the crop has reached the silking stage, half the 5-year average of 32 percent for this time of year.

Soybean growth is also lagging with 24 percent of the nation's crop in bloom, compared with an average 43 percent for this time of year.

The nation's rice crop is closer to its average with 14 percent of the crop headed out, against an historic average of 16 percent. But the spring wheat crop is also slow with 57 percent headed out. On average, 83 percent of the spring wheat crop has reached that stage by this week of the summer.

The 15 largest cotton-producing states report 77 percent of the crop has hit the squaring stage against an average of 72 percent for this time of year. Twenty-two percent of the crop has set bolls, slightly behind its average, the USDA said.