WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Crop progress for corn, cotton, soybeans, spring wheat and rice remain ahead of their five-year averages, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.
Although crop conditions have deteriorated through the summer's prolonged dry spell, farmers report 10 percent of their corn has reached maturity, compared with a five-year average of 3 percent for this week of the year.
Farmers report 89 percent of the cotton crop has set boles, compared with a long-term average of 81 percent. Among soybeans, 83 percent have reportedly set pods, compared with 70 percent as a five-year average.
In spring wheat, 65 percent of the crop is reportedly harvested. The average for 2007-2011 for this week of the year has been 24 percent, the weekly crop report said.
The USA said 83 percent of the rice crop is reportedly headed out, compared with a 2007-2011 average of 70 percent for this week of the year.
