If the mild weather patterns continue until harvest, we hope that the positive crop conditions can continue as well. Though some areas of the nation had a late start to planting due to excessive moisture, the summer’s crops have made up for a tardy arrival with crop conditions coming in better than last year’s crops at this time.

“With the recent rains over the last few weeks throughout the Midwest, the corn and soybean crops look to be off to a great start,” said Larry Ewart, Senior Vice President of Claims.

According to the mid-July USDA report, 76 percent of the U.S. corn is in good to excellent condition. At this time last year, only 69 percent of the corn was rated good to excellent. Minnesota is barely beating out Iowa with the best corn crop, with 82 percent in good to excellent condition.

Soybeans are also having a good year, with 71 percent in good to excellent condition. Last year, only 62 percent of soybeans fell into this category in mid-July. Iowa can boast the best soybean crops right now, with 80 percent in good to excellent condition.

“Soybean conditions are still firmly among the best observed over the last 30 years,” stated a Planalytics report. The report also noted that the “2016 U.S. soybean crop is in a better position than corn to handle the hot and dry weather looming in late July.”

The same rains that gave corn and soybeans a healthy boost in  early July also slightly delayed the wheat harvest in Kansas and Nebraska, but it certainly didn’t affect the crop outcome.

“The wheat yields through Kansas, western Nebraska, and eastern Colorado have been reported as outstanding,” said Ewart. “Yields exceeding 75 bushels to the acre have been reported in many counties.”