This article was originally published at 3:07 p.m. CDT on Monday, Aug. 24. It was last updated with additional information at 3:47 p.m. CDT on Monday, Aug. 24.

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OMAHA (DTN) -- The national corn crop continued its downward trend last week, with its good-to-excellent rating dropping 3 percentage points, while soybean ratings also declined, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

A front stuck across the far south will bring heavy rain to areas of the Delta that need it, while a cold front moves across the country with scattered showers in the Plains and western Midwest, followed by heavier rain later in the week and next week, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

CORN

-- Crop development: Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 86%, 5 percentage points ahead of last year's 81% and 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 82%. Corn dented was estimated at 45%, 3 percentage points ahead of last year's 42% and 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 41%. Corn mature was pegged at 6%, steady with last year's pace and the five-year average.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 57% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, down 3 percentage points from the previous week of 60% and 14 percentage points below last year's 71%. Seventeen percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, 2 percentage points above the previous week's 15% and 9 percentage points above the previous year's 8%. DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery noted the 3-point decline marked the lowest late-August rating in three years. North Dakota led state-by-state declines, with its poor-to-very-poor rating increasing 10 percentage points.

SOYBEANS

-- Crop development: Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 91%, 3 percentage points ahead of both last year and the five-year average of 88%. Soybean dropping leaves were pegged at 6%, 2 percentage points ahead of last year and the five-year average of 4%.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 60% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, 1 percentage point below the previous week's 61% and 9 percentage points below the previous year's 69%. Montgomery said the national rating was the lowest for this week in August in three years. As with corn, North Dakota led state declines, with 8 points added to the poor-to-very-poor category.

SPRING WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: Spring wheat harvest moved ahead 21 percentage points last week to reach 62% complete as of Sunday. That was 11 percentage points ahead of last year's pace of 51% and 10 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 52%.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 51% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, down 1 percentage point from the previous week's 52%. Montgomery said crop ratings were steady or improved in all states but North Dakota, where good-to-excellent ratings fell 5 percentage points, pulling the national average down.

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

The week will bring additional showers to the Delta, scattered showers across the Plains and western Midwest and heavier rain later in the week, creating some harvest challenges while helping fill grains and prep soils ahead of winter wheat planting, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

"Some areas got some needed rainfall last week, and some wet areas in Illinois through Ohio got more that they didn't need," Baranick said. "Heat has been constant across the South-Central U.S., and a lot of this same activity will again occur this week. There is a front that is stuck now across the far south and we're seeing some heavy rain in areas that really need it in the Delta, and we'll see some additional showers there this week and less heat overall, but it should be a lot like last week.

"There is a system moving through Canada and that will be pushing a cold front across the country this week. Scattered showers in the Plains and western Midwest will turn to isolated showers farther east, somewhat beneficial for filling grains. For those beginning harvest, especially with spring wheat, they'll have to dodge showers, but they'll get a drier period midweek to get some work done. That's ahead of the next system that will be moving through with showers in the Northern Plains on Friday and then spreading across the country this weekend. That system is likely to produce some heavier rain, and a system that moves through early next week will continue the chance for some areas of heavy rain as well. With how advanced the crop is becoming, the rainfall isn't like to have a huge influence on crop conditions, but could stop some areas from seeing declines. The rainfall in the Plains should help to prep soils ahead of winter wheat planting next month. We are going to need much more than what is forecast this week, but the pattern could be a little more favorable in early September, we'll have to see."

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To view weekly crop progress reports issued by National Ag Statistics Service offices in individual states, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/…. Look for the U.S. map in the "Find Data and Reports by" section and choose the state you wish to view in the drop-down menu. Then look for that state's "Crop Progress & Condition" report.

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Editor's Note: How are your crops looking? Are they better, worse or right on track with USDA NASS' observations this week? Send us your comments, and we'll include them in next week's Crop Progress report story. You can email comments to talk@dtn.com. Please include the location of where you farm.

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EllaMae Reiff can be reached at ellamae.reiff@dtn.com

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