NRCS photo by Brandon O’Connor

The latest USDA Crop Progress Report showed that the corn harvest in the U.S. is still behind the five-year average, while soybean harvest remains slightly ahead of pace and nearing completion at 92%.

Favorable fieldwork conditions early this week should help farmers make even more harvest progress, but scattered showers and a brief blast of colder temperatures are expected to move across the eastern half of the country through Friday, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

Corn

  • Harvest is 81% complete as of November 8, up 7 points from last week but slipped back to 5 points behind the five-year average (86%).
  • A rainy week saw the Iowa harvest progress advance only 6 points over last week (72%). That puts it 17 points behind the five-year average (89%).
  • Nebraska had similar results, only progressing 8 points over last week, putting it 10 points behind the five-year average (84%).

Soybeans

  • Harvest is in the homestretch at 92% complete, up 4 points from last week and 1 point ahead of the five-year national average (91%).
  • After a slow start, Iowa is now 93% harvested, only 2 points behind the five-year pace (95%).
  • Nebraska also saw a favorable week, now 90% harvested, which is 3 points behind the five-year pace (93%).
  • Illinois is 96% harvested, four points ahead of the five-year pace (92%).

Winter Wheat

  • Planting is 89% complete nationally, up 6 points from last week and 1 point behind the five-year average (90%).
  • 76% has emerged, 2 points ahead of the five-year average (74%).
  • Good-to-excellent ratings improved to 49%, up 5 points from last week. Recent rain across the Southern Plains helped boost ratings in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
  • 16% of Winter Wheat is rated poor to very poor.

Read more commentary from DTN and the full USDA report here.