Crop ratings slip

Corn and soybean conditions slipped a few percentage points in the last week, falling a few points behind normal for this time of year, according to Monday's USDA-NASS Crop Progress report.

As of Sunday, 65% of the nation's soybean crop is in good-to-excellent condition, down from 68% a week ago, according to Monday's report. Planting is still underway for the bean crop, but it's just ahead of the normal pace at 97%, and emergence is right on schedule with a year ago at 92%.

Corn conditions dipped slightly from a week ago, too. Sixty-eight percent of that crop's in good-to-excellent shape, down from 70% last week. A year ago, 73% of the nation's corn crop had the same rating.