This article was originally published at 3:04 p.m. CDT on Monday, July 13. It was last updated with additional information at 3:59 p.m. CDT on Monday, July 13.

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OMAHA (DTN) -- U.S. corn condition ratings improved 1 percentage point after holding steady for two weeks, while soybean condition ratings also increased 1 percentage point from the previous week, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

A major heat wave will dominate the northern U.S. this week, stressing crops as dry conditions persist. A midweek front may bring limited relief before a late-week system ends the heat and shifts concerns west, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

CORN

-- Crop development: Corn silking was pegged at 34%, 2 percentage points ahead of last year's 32% and 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 30%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 6%, steady with last year and slightly ahead of the five-year average of 5%.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 68% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, 1 percentage point above the previous week of 67% and 6 percentage points below last year's 74%. Eight percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, steady with the previous week and 3 points above the previous year's 5%. DTN Senior Analyst noted that Iowa's crop ratings stood at 78% good to excellent, compared with 83% in Wisconsin and 84% in Minnesota.

SOYBEANS

-- Crop development: Soybeans blooming was pegged at 50%, 5 points ahead of last year's 45% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 44%. Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 19%, 5 points ahead of last year's 14% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 13%.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 65% of soybeans that had emerged were in good-to-excellent condition, 1 point above the previous week of 64% and 5 points below the previous year of 70%. Iowa's soybean crop was rated 74% good to excellent, while Wisconsin and Minnesota were rated at 78% and 81% good to excellent, respectively, Mantini said.

WINTER WHEAT

-- Harvest progress: Harvest moved ahead 8 percentage points last week to reach 67% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 5 points ahead of last year's 62% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 61%. Winter wheat harvest was 97% complete in Kansas, while Idaho was only 5% harvested, Mantini said.

SPRING WHEAT

-- Crop development: Seventy-two percent of spring wheat was headed, 4 points behind last year's pace of 76% and steady with the five-year average.

-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 58% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, up 1 point from 57% the previous week. Hard red spring wheat ratings were 65% good to excellent in North Dakota and 92% in Minnesota, Mantini said.

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

A major heat wave will sweep across the Northern Plains and northern Corn Belt this week, with temperatures near or above 100 degrees raising concerns for crop development, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

"During the statistically hottest week of the year, it should be no surprise that this week will feature a massive heat wave," Baranick said. "It started in the Northern Plains this weekend and will spread across the northern U.S. throughout the week. Highs up near or over 100 degrees will be common in the Northern Plains, with lots of 90s across the Great Lakes into the Northeast. Across the South and Southeast, a system from the weekend has stalled. It will be producing widespread showers and thunderstorms through at least Wednesday and possibly longer, putting a lid on the higher temperatures. In between, temperatures will be typical summertime heat across the southern end of the Corn Belt.

"Making the weather a bit more complicated, there could be a front that dips into the Great Lakes midweek. That would cool temperatures off by about 10 degrees or possibly more, but models are uncertain about it. That would be another source of potential precipitation, otherwise northern areas will likely be dry this week, stressing out pollinating corn, blooming soybeans, and heading spring wheat.

"The heat wave ends with a system moving through the Northern Plains on Friday and Saturday, and then its cold front dragging across the rest of the country this weekend into early next week. Some showers are bound to happen with the front, but it may not be all that widespread. Models are still working that out. But temperatures should move into more typical midsummer values for next week. The heat will then shift to the west, where it could be concerning for spring wheat in the Pacific Northwest."

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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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