U.S. corn and soybean good-to-excellent ratings declined for the week ended Aug. 23, with corn falling to 57% from 60% and below the 59% market expectation, while soybeans dropped to 60% from 61% instead of holding steady. Both were their lowest week-34 ratings since 2023. Spring wheat slipped to 51%, matching expectations, and cotton fell to 37% from 38%, versus 54% a year earlier. Crop development remained ahead of historical benchmarks: corn dented reached 86%, while the corn dented stage advanced to 45%; soybeans setting pods reached 91%, and spring wheat harvest reached 62%. Pro Farmer’s field-based survey projected 2026 corn yields at 173.2 bushels per acre and production at 15.344 billion bushels, below USDA estimates of 180.7 bushels and 16.013 billion bushels. Its soybean projection of 53.3 bushels per acre exceeded USDA’s 52.7 bushels and could represent a record. Warmer-than-normal conditions are expected across most major growing states from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, but the outlook showed no below-normal precipitation signals. December corn futures rose 1.4% to $5.155 per bushel, while November soybeans fell 1.2% to $12.2425 and December wheat gained 0.04% to $6.995. Traders will focus on whether USDA incorporates Pro Farmer’s field findings into its September supply-and-demand report.