Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the Aug. 11 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending Aug. 8):

Corn: Acreage at or beyond the silking stage reached 89 percent by week’s end, 2 points behind last year and 7 points slower than the 5-year average. Crop development was at or behind in all States except Colorado, where 27 percent of the crop began silking during the week, leaving progress 9 points ahead of the average. Meanwhile, 24 percent of the Nation’s crop was at or beyond the dough stage, 4 points behind last year and 22 points, or over 1 week, behind normal. The biggest delays were evident in Illinois and Indiana, where progress was more than 2 weeks behind the 5-year average. Acreage in the dent stage, at 5 percent, was 1 point behind last year and 9 points behind normal. Denting had not yet begun in most of the Corn Belt, but was ahead of the 5-year average in Texas. Overall, 68 percent of the corn crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from a week ago, but 1 point better than last year.

Soybeans: Nationally, 86 percent of this year’s soybean crop was at or beyond the blooming stage, 1 point behind last year and 7 points behind the average. Blooming was active across much of the growing region; however, progress remained at or behind the 5-year average in all estimating States. Pod set was evident in 55 percent of the crop by August 9, two points behind last year and 17 points behind normal. The crop in Illinois, Michigan, and North Dakota experienced lags of 34 points or more, leaving progress over 1 week behind normal. Overall, 66 percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, down 1 point from last week, but 3 points better than a year ago.

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the July 28 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending July 25):

Corn: Silking advanced 24 points during the week, leaving progress, at 55 percent complete, on par with last year, but 21 points behind the 5-year average. Under ideal growing conditions, development was most rapid in the Corn Belt. Thirty-four percent of the crop began silking in Iowa and Minnesota during the week, while 27 percent of the crop in Illinois reached the silking stage. Meanwhile, 7 percent of the Nation’s corn acreage was at or beyond the dough stage, equaling the maturity pace from a year ago, but 10 points slower than normal. At 80 percent complete, doughing was most advanced in North Carolina, while the crop had yet to reach the dough stage in Iowa and Minnesota, as well as in the northern Great Plains and Great Lakes regions. Overall, 70 percent of the corn crop was rated in good to excellent condition, down slightly from a week ago, but up 4 points from a year ago.

Soybeans: Nationally, 63 percent of this year’s soybean crop was at or beyond the blooming stage, 3 points ahead of last year, but 13 points behind the average. Following a sluggish start to spring planting, crop development advanced rapidly across much of the growing region, but remained at or behind the average pace in all States except South Dakota. Pod set was evident in 20 percent of the 2009 soybean crop by July 26, one point ahead of last year, but 16 points behind the 5-year average. Pod set had begun in all estimating States, but was most advanced in the Delta, with Mississippi leading all States at 86 percent complete. Overall, 67 percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from last week, but 5 points better than last year.

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the June 23 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending June 20):

Corn: The 2009 corn crop continued to develop at a slower-than-normal pace in many locations across the Corn Belt because of delayed spring planting. In Iowa, the largest corn-producing State, emergence was nearly complete, buEditt the average height of this year’s crop was shorter than normal. Overall, 70 percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from a week ago, but 11 points better than a year ago.

Soybeans: Soybean producers had planted 91 percent of this year’s soybean crop by June 21, one point ahead of last year, but 4 points behind the 5-year average. Planting was complete or nearly complete across the Great Plains and most of the Delta and Corn Belt. However, with just 79 percent of the intended acreage in the ground, planting in Illinois, the second largest soybean-producing state, remained over 3 weeks behind normal. Emergence reached 84 percent complete by week’s end, 4 points ahead of 2009, but 6 points behind the average. Following several weeks of intense planting, favorable growing conditions allowed for rapid crop development in North Dakota where 25 percent of the crop emerged during the week. Overall, 67 percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, a slight improvement from a week ago and 10 points better than last year.

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the June 16 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending June 13):

Highlights: The Nation’s mid-section was abnormally wet during the week, while areas along the Canadian and Mexican borders, as well as in the Southeast were mostly dry. A slow-moving frontal boundary brought more than 4 inches of rainfall to some locations in the already-soggy Corn Belt. With the exception of much of the Pacific Northwest, temperatures in the western half of the country were cooler than normal. In northeastern Wyoming, temperatures fell to as many as 14 degrees below average. Temperatures across the majority of the eastern United States were warmer than normal.

Corn: Nationally, 95 percent of the 2009 corn crop had emerged, 1 point ahead of last year’s pace, but 3 points slower than the 5-year average. Despite cooler than normal temperatures, the most advancement occurred in North Dakota, where 25 percent of the corn crop emerged during the week, pushing development to 90 percent complete, 6 points behind last year and 8 points behind normal. Overall, 70 percent of the corn crop was reported in good to excellent condition, a slight improvement from a week ago and 13 points better than the previous year.

Soybeans: By week’s end, 87 percent of the soybean crop was planted, 4 points ahead of last year, but 5 points behind the average. The most activity was evident in Arkansas and Kentucky, where 19 percent of the intended soybean acreage was planted in both States during the week. Despite this progress, Arkansas remained 2 weeks behind the 5-year average and Kentucky slightly over 1 week behind normal. Following several weeks of intense planting, crop emergence reached 72 percent complete Nationwide, 3 points ahead of development a year ago, but 11 points behind the 5-year average. Sixty-six percent of the Nation’s soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, 10 points better than a year ago.

This article on the formation of Latham Hi-Tech Seeds and our mission of remaining independent was published yesterday in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

The second sentence of the story makes the case for our entire business: “…representatives with the small north-central Iowa seed company say they’re armed with unbiased information to help make customers money.” Feel free to forward this link to anyone who might benefit from knowing the independence story.

Bill Latham of Latham Seeds was interviewed by SeedWorld, a major agricultural and commercial seed media company. Bill shared his thoughts on a variety of topics, from students entering the seed business to shifts in the demand for and roles of genetics and traits.

Click here to take a look at one of the interview installments.

To view the entire six-part series, Giant Views of the Seed Industry, click here.

Bill may have giant views, but Latham Seeds and Latham-Hi-Tech Hybrids are committed to being anything but giants. We just want to keep doing what we’re doing: being a trusted, independent, innovative partner with Midwestern farmers every day, every year.

Despite challenging conditions early in the growing season, the 2008 U.S. corn crop is predicted to reach near-record levels. The crops have made remarkable progress, as reflected in the USDA’s crop report on August 12. Whether or not you agree with the government’s report on yields, agri-marketer John Roach says now is not the time to sell. Roach expects the markets to peak in March, April, May and June of 2009.

Click to listen to LathamCast Episode 2 Part 5:

 LathamCast Episode 2 Cut 5 [3:17m]: Play in Popup | Download