The U.S. corn and soybean harvests made substantial progress this past week, although both have still not caught up to normal.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report showed the nationwide corn harvest advanced 11 percentage points from the previous week to reach 44% complete as of Sunday, still 8t points behind the five-year average of 52%.
Meanwhile, the U.S. soybean harvest jumped 18 points to 64% complete, up from 46% the previous week and just below the five-year average of 65%.
Forecasts call for warm, dry weather across much of the Midwest this week, which should allow farmers to make substantial harvest progress. Conditions are expected to be particularly good from Nebraska and Minnesota eastward through Indiana and Ohio.
Delayed by earlier wet weather, Iowa's corn harvest reached 26% complete as of Sunday, up from 14% a week earlier but well behind the 50% average. Illinois advanced to 63% from 51%, ahead of its 58% average, while Indiana reached 46%, up from 34% and matching its average.
Michigan's corn harvest was 13% complete, versus 4% the previous week and 31% on average. Ohio advanced to 21% from 11%, behind its 33% average, while North Dakota reached 42%, compared to 23% a week earlier and 36% normally.
As for soybeans, the Illinois harvest reached 66% complete as of Sunday, up from 48% and ahead of its 62% average. Iowa reached 57%, versus 31% last week and 74% on average.
Indiana advanced to 59% from 44%, matching its average, while Michigan reached 37%, up from 27% but behind the 51% average. Ohio climbed to 48% from 30%, compared with 59% normally, and North Dakota reached 79%, up from 60% and ahead of its 73% average.
Nationally, 95% of corn was mature, compared to 91% the previous week and 96% on average. Soybean leaf drop reached 96%, up from 92% and versus 97% normally.
The national corn crop was rated 56% good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week. No condition rating was released for soybeans.
