US producers made slightly better harvest progress on soybeans compared to corn this past week.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report showed the national corn harvest at 14% complete as of Sunday, up a modest 5 points on the week and 2 points behind the average pre-report trade guess. On the other hand, the American soybean harvest advanced 7 points on the week to 13% done – matching pre-report expectations.
Despite relatively slow going this past week, the corn harvest remains a single point ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of the five-year average. The soybean harvest was 3 points better than last year and 5 points ahead of average.
In the top production state of Iowa, the corn harvest inched up to 5% complete as of Sunday, compared to 2% a week earlier, 8% last year and 5% on average. At 14% done, the Illinois harvest gained 7 points on the week and was 7 points ahead of average. The Indiana harvest was 12% complete, up from 5% the previous week and 6 points ahead of average.
The Michigan and Ohio corn harvests were 3% and 10% complete, versus 2% and 6% the previous week and 2% for both states on average. No corn harvest was yet reported in North Dakota, compared to 2% complete for both last year and the state average.
As for the soy harvest, the Illinois crop was already 15% in the bin as of Sunday, up from 6% a week earlier and 12 points ahead of average. The Indiana harvest was 16% complete, up 10 points on the week and 11 points ahead of average, while Iowa was 9% done, compared to 1% the previous week and 7% on average.
The Ohio soybean harvest advanced 10 points to reach 14% done as of Sunday, far ahead of just 2% last year and 3% on average. The Michigan crop was 9% harvested as of Sunday, up from 2% a week earlier and 4% on average. The North Dakota crop was 8% off, matching last year and 1 point behind average.
An estimated 61% of the national corn crop had reached maturity as of Sunday, up from 45% a week earlier. That is 4 points behind last year but 6 points ahead of average. An estimated 65% of the US soybean crop was dropping leaves, compared to 44% the previous week, 68% last year, and 57% on average.
The US soybean crop was rated 65% good to excellent as of Sunday, steady from a week earlier and 12 points higher than a year ago. The condition of the soybean crop was unchanged on the week as well, holding at 64% good to excellent, compared to 50% last year.
