Corn harvest is within reach of the midway point and farmers are almost 2/3 of the way finished with soybean harvest, according to Tuesday’s holiday-delayed weekly USDA Crop Progress report. The 41% corn harvest completion noted in Tuesday’s report is a 16% gain in the last week, more than twice the 2019 pace by this week, two percentage points above average trade expectations and eight percent ahead of the previous five-year average. Similar progress was observed for soybean harvest, with 61% of the crop out of the field, two percent above trade estimates and 19% above the previous five-year average. Both crops saw slight declines in quality ratings from last week, but relatively strong harvest progress and crop quality signify a better general start to the crop year this spring compared to 2019, when early-season weather issues plagued farmers who faced planting delays in many areas. See more from Tuesday’s report.