The percentage of U.S. corn and soybeans harvested moved ahead by double digits again last week but remained the furthest behind average in a decade as of Sunday, Nov. 10, according to USDA NASS’ latest Crop Progress report released Tuesday. The report is normally released on Mondays but was delayed this week due to the Veterans Day holiday.

Nationwide, corn harvest picked up speed last week, moving ahead another 14 percentage points to reach 66% as of Sunday. That was still 19 percentage points behind the five-year average of 85% but was slightly nearer to normal than the previous week when harvest was running 23 percentage points behind the five-year average.

“USDA’s estimate that 66% of corn was harvested as of Nov. 10 was less than the trade expected and is the slowest pace since 2009,” said DTN Senior Analyst Dana Mantini. “Notable laggards are Michigan at 33% done versus 64% average, Wisconsin at 30% compared to a 65% average, South Dakota at 39% done versus an 82% average, and North Dakota at just 15% done versus 76% average. Iowa is 64% harvested versus an average of 86%.”

Meanwhile, soybean harvest moved ahead 10 percentage points last week to reach 85% as of Sunday. That was 7 percentage points behind the five-year average of 92%, an improvement from last Monday’s report, when harvest was running 12 percentage points behind average.

“Soybean harvest was on the low side of expectations and also the slowest progress since 2009,” Mantini said. “Of the major soy-producing states, Wisconsin and North Dakota, at 71% and 74% done, are the slowest. Nebraska leads major producing states with 96% of harvest complete. Iowa and Illinois are 91% and 87% finished, respectively.”

Winter wheat progress stayed close to normal last week. As of Sunday, 92% of winter wheat was planted, equal to the five-year average. Winter wheat emerged was estimated at 78%, 3 percentage points behind the five-year average of 81%.

Winter wheat condition was estimated at 54% good to excellent, down 3 percentage points from 57% the previous week.

Sorghum harvested reached 88%, ahead of the five-year average of 80%. Cotton harvested was estimated at 62%, also ahead of the average pace of 59%.

To view weekly crop progress reports issued by National Ag Statistics Service offices in individual states, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/…. Look for the U.S. map in the “Find Data and Reports by” section and choose the state you wish to view in the drop-down menu. Then look for that state’s “Crop Progress & Condition” report.

National Crop Progress Summary
This Last Last 5-Year
Week Week Year Avg.
Corn Harvested 66 52 83 85
Soybeans Harvested 85 75 87 92
Winter Wheat Planted 92 89 88 92
Winter Wheat Emerged 78 71 76 81
Cotton Harvested 62 53 53 59
Sorghum Harvested 88 78 72 80

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National Crop Condition Summary
(VP = Very Poor; P = Poor; F = Fair; G = Good; E = Excellent)
This Week Last Week Last Year
VP P F G E VP P F G E VP P F G E
Winter Wheat 3 10 33 43 11 4 9 30 45 12 3 9 34 45 9

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National Soil Moisture Condition – 48 States
(VS = Very Short; SH = Short; AD = Adequate; SR = Surplus)
This Week Last Week Last Year
VS SH AD SR VS SH AD SR VS SH AD SR
Topsoil Moisture 4 12 66 18 5 11 63 21 3 8 66 23
Subsoil Moisture 5 14 66 15 5 14 65 16 5 11 65 19

Anthony Greder can be reached at anthony.greder@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @AGrederDTN

Source: Anthony Greder, DTN