Corn crop rated as 48% good to excellent.

[Skidmore]

We have farmers reporting stalks but no ears or ears with no silks. Expect food prices to reflect the shortage. Corn is used in nearly everything. The answer isn't going to come from depending on local seasonal markets either because they are too small to meet the needs of the nation.


http://www.farmgateblog.com/article/1633/crop-conditions-continue-to-slide

Crop Conditions Continue to Slide.

How do you spell plummet? That is certainly what happened to the crop rating for corn in the past week, as USDA dropped the 2012 corn crop from 56% in good to excellent condition to 48% good to excellent. The amount of corn that is now considered in poor to very poor condition increased from 14% last week to 22% this week nationally. One month ago, the rating was 72% good to excellent and only 5% in the poor to very poor category. The downhill slide is gaining momentum from the Cornbelt blast furnace. ... more

[TheWraith]

1. I'm guessing the problem is water?

Corn usually likes hot temperatures, but without water it's no good.

[HereSince1628]

2. About 50% of the US cornbelt is in significant hydrologic drought. n.t

[hatrack]

3. In addition, it's just plain too damned hot

Photosynthesis essentially stops once you get to 104F, and in addition to that, if pollination takes place during an extreme heat wave, the pollen dies.

When that happens, you end up with ears of corn with no kernels on them. At that point, it might be worth chopping for silage, or just leave the stover in place for next year.