Last week’s rains improved crop conditions for both corn and soybeans in South Dakota, but may only really help improve yield prospects for soybeans. The latest USDA crop progress report showed the state’s good to excellent rating on soybeans at 42-percent, which is up 8-percent from the previous week. Pioneer Field Agronomist Jim Ruhland covers central South Dakota and says the recent rains will help crop prospects in drought areas, especially for the beans.

The corn crop rating also improved, with 42-percent good to excellent, up 8-percent from last week. He says the rain will help the corn fill, but may have come too late to significantly boost yield.

Ruhland says with the wide variability in crop conditions he expects statewide yields to be down from last year’s records on both corn and soybeans.

USDA pegged South Dakota’s corn yield at 140 bushels per acre, down 21 bushels from last year. The agency put soybean yield at 41 bushels per acre, down 8.5 bushels.