The latest USDA Crop Progress Report was released on Tuesday due to the holiday. Dry conditions helped corn and soybean harvest advance, although both remain behind the five-year average pace. Winter wheat planting is also running behind average, while heavy rain in the forecast could slow fieldwork again.

Corn

Condition is 56% good-to-excellent, up two points from last week.
91% mature, on pace with the five-year average and 8 points ahead of last week’s 83%.
Harvest is 33% complete nationally as of Oct. 11, 6 points behind the five-year average of 39%.
Iowa is 14% harvested, roughly 20 points behind the state’s five-year average. Nebraska is 27% harvested, 8 points behind the five-year average.

Soybeans

Condition at 57% good-to-excellent, steady from last week.
Dropping leaves at 92%, two points behind the five-year average of 94% and 5 points ahead of last week.
Harvest at 46% complete, 4 points behind the five-year average of 50% but 21 points ahead of last week.
Iowa is 31% harvested, far behind the five-year average of 59%. Illinois is 48% harvested, slightly ahead of the national pace.

Winter Wheat

Planting is 51% complete, 7 points behind the five-year average of 58% but 15 points ahead of last week.
Kansas is 44% planted, 12 points behind its five-year average of 56%.

DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick’s weather outlook calls for heavy rain from west Texas into Missouri this week. A brief cold snap could also bring frost to parts of the Corn Belt by Friday or Saturday before drier weather returns.