USDA Weekly Crop Progress

OMAHA (DTN) -- Soybean harvest is barreling along in the U.S., advancing 20 percentage points in the week ended Oct. 11, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report.

Sixty-two percent of the nation's soybean crop has been cut, compared to 42% last week and a five-year average of 54%. Soybean condition held steady.

"This report could be viewed as neutral," said DTN Senior Analyst Darin Newsom, "though will likely be interpreted as bearish, leading to possible selling during the overnight session into Wednesday morning."

The nation's corn harvest advanced to 42%, compared to 27% last week and a five-year average of 43%. Corn condition also held steady in the past week.

"Of the major growing states, Iowa continues to show the largest lag of 29% completed as compared to its five-year average of 38%," Newsom said. "This report could be viewed as neutral."

Winter wheat planting is 64% complete, compared to 49% last week and a 66% five-year average. Thirty-three percent of the crop is emerged, compared to 20% last week and a 36% five-year average.

"Texas continues to run 10 percentage points behind its average planting rate," Newsom said. "Texas also is showing the largest lag in emergence (20% this week versus 30% average). These numbers could be viewed as neutral to slightly bullish."

Eighty-five percent of sorghum is mature and 51% is harvested, compared to 77% and 43% last week and five-year averages of 75% and 44%, respectively. Sorghum condition held steady.

Eighty-nine percent of the cotton crop has bolls opening, compared to 77% last week and the five-year average of 75%. Cotton is 22% harvested, compared to 16% last week and a 25% five-year average.

Rice is 88% harvested, compared to 78% last week and a five-year average of 80%.

The following are highlights from weekly crop progress reports issued by National Ag Statistics Service offices in individual states. To view the full reports from each state, visit http://1.usa.gov/….

Colorado

Cooler temperatures this past week improved crop conditions in some areas where heat stress was prevalent. Isolated precipitation was generally received east of the Front Range, causing some delays to field activity. Reporters in the northeastern district noted moisture sustained fall plantings and germination, while indications of high moisture content in corn was preventing full-scale harvest in several instances. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 9% very short, 39% short and 52% adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 10% very short, 35% short and 55% adequate.

Illinois

Continued warm, dry weather has enabled operators to make rapid progress in harvesting crops and preparing fields for next year. The dry conditions are causing some concern about pasture condition. Statewide, precipitation averaged 0.03 inch, 0.54 inch below normal. The average temperature was 61.4 degrees, 5.2 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at 8% very short, 30% short, 58% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated at 4% very short, 29% short, 62% adequate and 5% surplus. Corn harvest was 71% complete, 38 percentage points ahead of last year at this time. Soybean harvest was 71% complete, compared to 27% last year and 53% for the five-year average. Sorghum harvest was at 63% complete, compared to 25% complete last year. Winter wheat planted reached 41%, a jump of 19 percentage points from last week.

Indiana

With mild temperatures and little to no rain, the weather conditions were near ideal for corn and soybean harvest. Some farmers were able to work in the fields nearly every day this week due to above average temperatures and no frost. The dry days helped to continue drying down commercial corn and soybean plants. However, several southern counties are considered to be abnormally dry and classified under moderate drought, according to the latest drought monitor. There were 6.4 days available for fieldwork, 0.8 more days than last week. Corn and soybean harvest continued to progress nicely, with only few fog delays during the week. Both crops are drying down better than expected, allowing farmers to get them off the fields relatively quickly. Soybean yields remain favorable on average and are fairly consistent across the State. Conversely, farmers are seeing more variable yields for commercial corn as a result of the over-abundance of moisture that occurred in June. Conditions of both corn and soys have improved slightly over the past few weeks. Winter wheat plantings are well ahead of last year and the five year average and are beginning to emerge nicely. Farmers in the drought areas have been hesitant to plant wheat until more moisture arrives. A few fall hay fields were cut and baled. Other activities included harvesting processing tomatoes, finishing up seed corn and silage harvest, tilling fields, laying tile, planting cover crops, spreading fertilizer, and spraying for winter annuals. Topsoil moisture: 8% very short, 37% short, 50% adequate, 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 7% very short, 36% short, 53% adequate, 4% surplus.

Iowa

Warm and dry weather allowed Iowa farmers to harvest nearly one-third of the state's soybean crop in the past week. Statewide there were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork, the most days suitable for fieldwork this season. Fieldwork activities for the week included cutting hay, harvesting corn for grain, harvesting soybeans, and fall tillage. There were also reports of manure and fertilizer being spread, as well as some grain hauling. Topsoil moisture: 1% very short, 12% short, 81% adequate, and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 1% very short, 8% short, 83% adequate and 8% surplus. Corn maturity is eight days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of average. Harvest is 12 days ahead of last year but 5 days behind average. Moisture content of all corn being harvested was at 19%, down 2 percentage points from the previous week. Soybeans dropping leaves were 3 days ahead of normal Soybean harvest was 10 days ahead of last year.

Kansas

Temperatures averaged two to eight degrees above normal. The southern half of the state received less than half of an inch of rain, while the north remained dry. There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture: 14% very short, 39% short, 45% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 12% very short, 35% short, 53% adequate, and 0% surplus. Sunflowers condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 31% fair, 57% good, and 8% excellent. Sunflowers ray flowers dried was 96%, ahead of 91% last year, but near 94% average. Bracts turning yellow was 77%, near 81% last year, but behind 86% average. Bracts turning brown was 49%, behind 54% last year and 67% average. Harvested was 5%, near 6% last year, but behind 18% average.

Michigan

There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork. In the Upper Peninsula and Northwest Lower Peninsula, conditions remain abnormally dry. In central and southern counties, there were some cooler, wetter days in the middle of the week where high fog moisture and cloudy conditions hampered harvest; but weather conditions were generally favorable for field activity to continue at a steady pace this week. Soybean harvest neared the halfway point while dry bean harvest was winding down; a few producers reported that the rainy, humid conditions in the middle of the week affected soybean and dry bean quality. Sugarbeet harvest continued on an as needed basis; open delivery and building of storage piles was expected to begin October 20. Sugarbeet yields continued to look good, but cercospora leafspot in many fields was expected to affect sugar content. Silage corn harvest was winding down this week while many growers waiting to harvest corn for grain until soybean harvest was complete or moisture content was lower. Winter wheat and cover crop planting continued as more fields were harvested; germination has been slow in drier parts of the state. Topsoil moisture: 3% very short, 22% short, 69% adequate, 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 4% very short, 24% short, 69% adequate, 3% surplus.

Minnesota

Minnesota farmers were able to harvest about one-fifth of both their soybean and corn crops during the 6.3 days suitable for field work this past week. Most of the state experienced high winds, helping to dry down corn but also reducing topsoil moisture. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 4% very short, 21% short, 73% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4% very short, 16% short, 78% adequate and 2% surplus. Corn harvested for grain was 29% complete as of Sunday, near the average of 30%. Corn moisture content of grain at harvest was 19%. Soybeans were 91% harvested, ahead of the average of 75%.

Missouri

Another dry week across Missouri allowed crop harvest to advance although the lack of precipitation is worsening pasture conditions. Temperatures averaged 62.0 degrees, 3.9 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.14 inches statewide, 0.53 inches below normal. There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture: 20% very short, 37% short, 38% adequate, and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 8% very short, 31% short, 57% adequate, and 4% surplus.

Nebraska

Temperatures averaged six to eight degrees above normal with the only measurable precipitation recorded in the southwestern Panhandle. The dry conditions allowed soybean harvest to progress rapidly. Windy conditions late in the week combined with the above normal temperatures to speed crop dry-down. There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture: 7% very short, 28% short, 63% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 6% very short, 26% short, 66% adequate, and 2% surplus.

North Dakota

Favorable weather conditions allowed producers to make good harvest progress this past week. Strong winds over the weekend caused some damage to corn and sunflowers. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% very short, 30% short, 63% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short, 28% short, 66% adequate and 2% surplus. Winter wheat planted was 95%, near 93% last year. Emerged was 62%, ahead of 56% last year. Corn harvested was 15%, ahead of 2% last year but behind 22% average. Soybeans harvested were 86%, well ahead of 59% last year, and ahead of 69% average.

Ohio

Conditions were ideal for harvest this past week, with 6.2 days suitable for field work. Moisture content of corn and soybeans were reportedly ideal due to the normal fall temperatures and below-average precipitation making harvest progress smoothly. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 9% very short, 31% short, 54% adequate and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 8% very short, 23% short, 64% adequate and 5% surplus. Corn was 93% mature compared to the five-year average of 76% and 35% was harvested for grain as of Sunday, ahead of the average pace of 24% harvested. Soybeans were 65% harvested, well ahead of the average of 36%. Winter wheat was 62% planted and 23% emerged, ahead of the average pace of 14% emerged.

Oklahoma

Summer-like weather persisted across the state this past week. Precipitation averaged less than 1 inch across the state, ranging from 0.07 inch in the south-central district to 0.21 inch in the panhandle district. Statewide, temperatures averaged in the mid-60s, with the lowest recorded at 38 degrees at Vinita on Saturday, Oct. 10, and the highest recorded at 97 degrees at Grandfield on Sunday, Oct. 11. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 15% very short, 38% short, 46% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 19% very short, 37% short, 43% adequate and 1% surplus. Winter wheat planted reached 65% and winter wheat emerged reached 32%. Canola planted reached 73% and canola emerged reached 30%, down 9 points from normal. Corn was 71% planted, behind the five-year average of 83%. Sorghum was 50% harvested, ahead of the average of 43% harvested. Soybeans were 12% harvested, behind the average pace of 19%. Cotton was 1% harvested, behind the average of 8%.

South Dakota

Favorable harvest weather continued. Above-normal temperatures and little to no rainfall allowed steady harvest activity for a majority of the week. Daytime highs reached the mid-80s to low 90s for many locations. Strong winds on Sunday halted fieldwork in some locations as peak wind gusts ranged from 40 to 50 miles per hour. There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture: 6% very short, 28% short, 65% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 6% very short, 27% short, 66% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Texas

Many areas of Texas received precipitation this past week. Portions of south Texas received upwards of 6 inches of rainfall. Areas of the Plains, the Trans-Pecos, the Edwards Plateau and south Texas received from trace amounts to upwards of 2.0 inches. South-central, east Texas and the upper coast received only scattered trace amounts to no precipitation. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 21% very short, 42% short, 34% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 16% very short, 45% short, 37% adequate and 2% surplus. Corn was 67% harvested, behind the average pace of 78%. Cotton was 24% harvested, slightly ahead of the average of 21%. Sorghum was 69% harvested, near the average of 71%. Soybeans were 60% harvested, behind the average pace of 74%. Winter wheat was 48% planted and 20% emerged, behind the average of 30% emerged. Oats were 45% planted and 9% emerged.

Wisconsin

Weather was favorable for field work this past week with daytime temperatures averaging in the 60s and a mix of sunny, overcast and windy conditions. Field work in the north and east of the state was interrupted by rain midweek, but the southwestern corner of the state was mostly dry. Topsoil moisture supplies were 10% surplus, 78% adequate and 12% short to very short. Subsoil moisture was 5% surplus, 82% adequate and 13% short to very short. As of Sunday, corn harvested for grain had reached 16% complete, 12 days ahead of last year but five days behind the five-year average. Corn harvested for silage was 94% complete, almost three weeks ahead of last year and six days ahead of the five-year average. Forty-six percent of the soybean crop had been harvested, 10 days ahead of last year but one day behind the five-year average.

National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Yr
	Week	Week	Year	Avg
Corn Mature	94	86	86	91
Corn Harvested	42	27	23	43
Soybeans Dropping Leaves	92	85	90	91
Soybeans Harvested	62	42	37	54
Cotton Bolls Opening	89	77	76	84
Cotton Harvested	22	16	21	25
Sorghum Mature	85	77	76	75
Sorghum Harvested	51	43	40	44
Rice Harvested	88	78	80	80
Winter Wheat Planted	64	49	66	66
Winter Wheat Emerged	33	20	41	36

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
Corn	3	7	22	48	20		3	7	22	48	20		2	5	19	50	24
Soybeans	3	8	25	48	16		3	8	25	48	16		1	5	21	53	20
Cotton	3	12	38	38	9		3	12	37	39	9		5	14	34	37	10
Sorghum	2	6	26	55	11		2	6	27	54	11		3	9	31	46	11

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