U.S. peanuts ahead, rice is a week behind

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. corn crop's silking stage is 97 percent done with 14 percent of the crop's kernels now at the dented stage, the Department of Agriculture said.

The crop's five-year average for the dented stage is 30 percent for this week of the year, the department said Monday.

The nation's peanut crop is ahead of its historic average with 98 percent of the crop at the pegging stage, compared with a 97 percent average.

In the country's six largest rice-producing states, 74 percent of the crop has headed out, lagging behind the five-year average of 87 percent for this week of the year, the report said.

Based on last week's rice-harvest average of 75 percent, the rice crop is about a week behind its historic average.

Ninety-five percent of the winter wheat crop has been harvested, while 35 percent of the wheat planted this spring -- against an average of 54 percent -- has been harvested, the weekly progress report said.

Soybean states report 94 percent of the soybean acreage is showing blossoms, nearly equal its 97 percent average.