The U.S. corn and soybean harvests made significant progress during the final week of October, although corn harvesting continues to trail its normal pace.
Monday's USDA crop progress report showed the nationwide corn harvest at 74% complete as of Sunday, up 14 percentage points from the previous week. However, progress remained three points behind the five-year average of 77%.
Soybean harvesting reached 88% complete, advancing nine points from 79% a week earlier and running four points ahead of the five-year average of 84%.
Illinois producers had harvested 86% of their corn as of Sunday, up from 74% the previous week and ahead of the five-year average of 83%. Indiana's corn harvest advanced 14 points to 75%, compared with the average of 71%, while Iowa made even stronger weekly progress, climbing 19 points to 66%. However, Iowa remained well behind its five-year average of 79%.
Michigan's corn harvest reached 43% complete as of Sunday, up from 28% the previous week but still 11 points behind its average. Ohio advanced 18 points to 53%, also trailing its normal pace of 60%.
In North Dakota, corn harvesting climbed from 58% to 76%, putting progress 7 points ahead of the five-year average.
Soybean harvesting was generally further advanced across the same states.
Illinois reached 91% complete, up from 81% the previous week and ahead of its five-year average of 85%. Indiana advanced 12 points to 87%, compared with the average of 81%.
Iowa's soybean harvest reached 90%, up from 78% the previous week and matching its five-year average.
Michigan producers had harvested 81% of their soybeans, up from 69% a week earlier and well ahead of the normal pace of 72%. Ohio advanced 14 points to 83%, matching its five-year average.
North Dakota's soybean harvest reached 96%, compared with 88% the previous week and the five-year average of 91%.
