Corn Reaches Grain-Filling Stages
Published: Friday, August 21, 2026
Crop development continued to advance across Indiana and Michigan during the week ending Sunday, with most corn acreage in both states silking and moving into the dough and dented stages, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
In Indiana, 99% of the corn crop was silking as of Sunday, up from 98% a week earlier and ahead of the 96% five-year average. Seventy-eight percent of the crop had reached the dough stage, compared with 67% a week earlier and 67% on average. Corn dented reached 15%, up from 12% the previous week, while no corn had been reported mature.
Michigan also reported 99% of its corn crop silking, compared with 95% a week earlier and 96% on average. Corn in the dough stage reached 66%, up from 55% the previous week and above the five-year average of 63%. Eleven percent of Michigan's corn had dented, up from 12% a week earlier, while none had reached maturity.
Corn condition was generally favorable in both states. Indiana rated 3% of its crop very poor, 7% poor, 29% fair, 52% good and 9% excellent. Michigan rated 1% very poor, 6% poor, 35% fair, 51% good and 10% excellent. Combined, 61% of Indiana's corn and 61% of Michigan's corn was rated good or excellent.
Soybeans also continued to develop. In Indiana, 94% of soybeans had reached the blooming stage, while 77% had set pods. Michigan reported 95% blooming and 85% setting pods. The five-year averages for blooming were 94% in Indiana and 96% in Michigan, while the averages for pod-setting were 78% and 87%, respectively.
Soybean conditions were mixed but leaned favorable. Indiana rated 3% of its crop very poor, 7% poor, 29% fair, 52% good and 9% excellent. Michigan reported 1% very poor, 6% poor, 35% fair, 51% good and 10% excellent.
The USDA report shows both states' crops progressing through key late-summer development stages, with corn increasingly entering grain-filling stages and soybeans advancing toward pod development.
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