The U.S. soybean harvest has entered the home stretch, while about a quarter of the corn crop remains to be harvested as of Sunday, Nov. 17, according to USDA NASS’ latest Crop Progress report released Monday.

Nationwide, corn harvest moved ahead another 10 percentage points to reach 76% complete as of Sunday, 16 percentage points behind the five-year average of 92%. That was slightly nearer to normal than the previous week when harvest was running 19 percentage points behind the five-year average.

“USDA’s latest corn harvest estimate is down from the five-year average of 92% and the slowest pace since 54% was harvested on Nov. 15, 2009,” said DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman. “North Dakota was 23% harvested, Michigan 39%, Wisconsin 44% and South Dakota 53%.”

Meanwhile, soybean harvest slowed somewhat last week, but moved ahead another 6 percentage points to reach 91% as of Sunday, only 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 95%.

“This year’s soybean harvest is now a little ahead of the 89% harvested on Nov. 15, 2009, and is even with last year’s pace on Nov. 18,” Hultman said. “Soybean harvests in Iowa and Illinois are 95% and 92% complete, respectively.”

Winter wheat progress continued at a near-average pace last week. As of Sunday, 95% of winter wheat was planted, equal to the five-year average. Winter wheat emerged was estimated at 83%, 3 percentage points behind the five-year average of 86%.

“Kansas is 98% planted, and slower states like Texas still have time to plant more,” Hultman said.

Winter wheat condition declined again, falling 2 percentage points from 54% good to excellent the previous week to 52% as of Sunday. The current rating is down from 56% last year at the same time but equal to the rating given two years ago.

Sorghum harvested reached 93%, ahead of the five-year average of 87%. Cotton harvested was estimated at 68%, also ahead of the average pace of 66%.

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 76 66 89 92
Soybeans Harvested 91 85 91 95
Winter Wheat Planted 95 92 92 95
Winter Wheat Emerged 83 78 80 86
Cotton Harvested 68 62 58 66
Sorghum Harvested 93 88 79 87

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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 4 10 34 41 11 3 10 33 43 11 2 9 33 46 10

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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 5 13 65 17 4 12 66 18 3 7 68 22
Subsoil Moisture 5 14 66 15 5 14 66 15 5 10 67 18

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

Follow him on Twitter @AGrederDTN

Source: Anthony Greder, DTN