(Washington, D.C.) After moving ahead of the normal pace in recent weeks, U.S. corn and soybean harvest progress slowed last week, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.
Harvest activity, along with winter wheat planting, could face additional disruptions this week as heavy rainfall is expected across parts of the Central and Southern Plains.
As of September 27, 96% of the nation’s corn crop was in the dented stage, up 2 percentage points from 94% a year ago and 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 95%.
Corn maturity reached 72%, compared with 69% last year and the five-year average of 71%.
NASS estimated that 18% of the U.S. corn crop had been harvested, one percentage point ahead of last year’s 17% but matched the five-year average.
Fifty-seven percent of the corn remaining in fields was rated good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week but down 9 percentage points from 66% a year ago.
Seventeen percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week and seven percentage points higher than the 10% reported at the same time last year.
Soybeans dropping leaves reached 75%, down one percentage point from 76% last year and matching the five-year average.
NASS estimated that 17% of the soybean crop had been harvested as of Sept. 27. That was 1 percentage point behind last year’s 18% but equal to the five-year average.
Fifty-eight percent of soybeans were rated good to excellent, unchanged from the previous week but 4 percentage points below the 62% reported a year ago.
