Crop conditions in South Dakota deteriorated last week with spotty rains and excessive heat. Soybeans were rated 61-percent good to excellent, down 5-percent from a week ago, while corn was down 3-percent at only 60-percent good to excellent. Monsanto Agronomist Jeff Fuls says last week’s heat did stress the crops, especially pollinating corn.

He says the heat likely shaved the top end of the yield off the corn across much of the state by about 5-percent, with nearly 70-percent of the crop in silking stage.

Fuls says despite this week’s drop in crop ratings, he thinks the soybean crop still has excellent potential.

Soybean development is well ahead of last year in South Dakota, with 42-percent of the crop setting pods verses 23-percent in 2015.