The U.S. corn and soybean harvests were both around one-quarter complete as of Sunday, but remained behind the average pace, according to Monday’s USDA crop progress report.
An estimated 23% of the nationwide corn crop had been harvested as of Sunday, up from 18% a week earlier but behind the five-year average of 27%. The national soybean harvest reached 25% done, up 8 percentage points from the previous week, but also lagged the five-year average of 33%.
Among key Midwest states, Illinois corn harvest advanced to 36% from 26% a week earlier, ahead of the 30% five-year average. Indiana climbed to 21% from 13%, slightly behind its 23% average, while Iowa moved to 7% harvested from 5%, trailing well behind the 20% average. Michigan edged up to 2% from 1%, behind the 14% average, and Ohio reached 6% compared with 3% the previous week, versus a 12% average. North Dakota corn harvest advanced to 12% from 8%, matching its five-year average.
Soybean harvest progress was generally more rapid. Iowa jumped to 27% complete from 14% a week earlier, nearly matching the 28% average. Illinois moved to 31% from 21%, slightly ahead of its 29% average, while Indiana nearly doubled to 27% from 14%, compared with 28% on average.
Michigan soybean harvest edged up to 11% from 10%, still well behind the 24% average. Ohio climbed to 10% from just 2%, versus 22% on average, while North Dakota advanced to 34% from 22%, just below its 36% average.
Crop development also continued to move forward. Nationally, 83% of the U.S. corn crop was mature as of Oct. 4, up from 72% a week earlier and matching the five-year average.
For soybeans, 85% of the crop was dropping leaves, up from 75% the previous week but slightly behind the 87% average.
Crop condition ratings slipped modestly. Corn was rated 54% good to excellent, down from 56% the previous week. Soybeans were rated 57% good to excellent, one point below the previous week’s 58%.
