The American corn harvest is off to a slightly quicker-than-normal start, while the condition of the soybean crop has now slipped below a year earlier amid late-season dryness.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the national corn harvest at 4% complete as of Sunday, 1 point ahead of the five-year average but a single point behind last year. Most of the progress to date has occurred in the more southern production states, although the Illinois harvest was reported at 2% complete, 1 point ahead of normal, and the Indiana harvest at 1% done, versus 0% on average.
The US corn crop was rated 68% good to excellent as of Sunday, down 1 point from the previous week but still 4 points above last year.
The soybean condition rating also fell 1 point on the week, but 64% good to excellent is now 1 point below a year ago.
The condition of the Illinois corn crop fell 2 points from a week earlier to 53% good to excellent, while the state soybean crop was up 1 point at 54%. At 60% good to excellent, the condition ratings for the Indiana corn and soybeans were both down 1 point from the previous week, while Iowa corn was down 4 points to 80% and the soybean crop down 1 point at 76%.
The Michigan corn crop rating tumbled 8 points on the week to 48% good to excellent, but the state soybean rating improved 2 points to 54%. The condition of the Ohio corn crop lost 10 points to 46%, and the state soybean crop was down 8 points at 46%. In North Dakota, the condition of the corn crop gained a single point to 66% good to excellent, with the soybean crop steady at 61%.
The American corn crop reached 25% mature as of Sunday, up 10 points on the week and on par with the average but 3 points behind last year. Almost three-quarters (74%) of the crop was dented, versus 58% a week earlier, 72% last year and 75% on average.
For soybeans, 97% of the crop was podding as of Sunday, up 3 points from the previous week and even with last year and the average. An estimated 21% of the soybean crop was dropping leaves, up from 11% a week earlier and near 23% last year and 22% on average.
