May 13, 2026
First Good/Excellent Ratings for U.S. Crops - 2021-2025
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Once the U.S. crops reach at least 50% emerged, the USDA starts to rate the crop condition which is then published every Monday afternoon in the Crop Progress Report. The crops are rated very poor, poor, fair, good, and excellent. The market pays closest attention to the percentage of the crop rated good/excellent.
With that in mind, the table below lists the first good/excellent rating of the year for the U.S. corn and soybean crops for the last five years. The first condition rating can occur as early as the last week of May or as late as the first or second week of June. In the past, the first corn rating usually occurred about a week ahead of the first soybean rating, but with the recent trend of planting soybeans as early as possible, that may no longer hold true.
For the last five years, the first good/excellent corn rating has averaged 4.6% higher than the first good/excellent soybean rating.
Percent of U.S. Crop Rated Good/Excellent in First Rating of the Year
| Year | Corn | Soybeans |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76% | 67% |
| 2022 | 73% | 70% |
| 2023 | 69% | 62% |
| 2024 | 75% | 72% |
| 2025 | 68% | 67% |
| Average | 72.2% | 67.6% |