date:Sep 11, 2013
e U.S. was in the grips of a serious drought.
A total of 16% of the crop was rated very poor to poor in the latest week, up from 15% the previous week but down from 35% a year ago, the U.S.D.A. said.
Corn also advanced toward maturity despite lagging five-year averages and experiencing modest declines in crop condition.
The U.S.D.A. said 64% of the crop had reached the dent stage as of Sept. 8, down from a 75% five-year average. A total of 9% of the crop in the 18 major states was deemed matu