The drought-driven decline in crop conditions in the last few weeks appears to be leveling off. Corn and soybean conditions are sitting at or near seasonably typical levels and unchanged from the previous week, according to this week's USDA-NASS Crop Progress report released Monday afternoon.

Fifty-six percent of the nation's corn crop is in good to excellent condition as of Sunday, identical to last week and just one percent lower than a year ago, according to Monday's report. Similarly, 56% of the nation's soybean crop is in good to excellent shape, also identical to both last week and last year's ratings.

Continuing the theme, both corn and soybean crops are identical in their development to last year at this time: As of Sunday, 96% of the soybean crop was blooming and 84% of the crop was setting pods, both figures the same as this week a year ago. Corn progress, however, is slightly ahead: Monday's report indicates 66% of the corn crop in dough stage versus 63% a year ago, and 24% of the corn is dented, up two percent from this time last year.

In other crops, cotton development continues slightly behind the average pace, while sorghum development and wheat, barley and oat harvest are surging slightly ahead of normal.

The drought-driven decline in crop conditions in the last few weeks appears to be leveling off. Corn and soybean conditions are sitting at or near seasonably typical levels and unchanged from the previous week, according to this week's USDA-NASS Crop Progress report released Monday afternoon.