USDA Weekly Crop Progress

OMAHA (DTN) -- Nearly 60% of the nation's corn is harvested and 77% of the soybean crop is in the bin, according to USDA's latest weekly Crop Progress report for the week ended Oct. 18.

Corn is 59% harvested, compared to 42% last week and a 54% five-year average.

"Sixty-eight percent of the corn crop remained rated good to excellent, resulting in a steady DTN Corn Condition Index at 165, still above the five-year average of 62," said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman. "Monday's report was neutral for corn."

Soybeans are 77% harvested, compared to 62% last week and a 68% five-year average. Soybean conditions are no longer reported.

"Monday's report should be viewed as neutral-to-bearish for soybeans," Hultman said.

Winter wheat planting is 76% complete, compared to 64% last week and a 77% five-year average. Forty-nine percent of the crop is emerged, compared to 33% last week and a 49% five-year average.

"Monday's report is neutral for wheat," Hultman said.

Ninety-one percent of sorghum is mature and 61% is harvested, compared to 85% and 51% last week and five-year averages of 84% and 52%, respectively. Sorghum condition is no longer reported.

Ninety-four percent of the cotton crop has bolls opening, compared to 89% last week and the five-year average of 89%. Cotton is 31% harvested, compared to 22% last week and a 32% five-year average.

Rice is 95% harvested, compared to 88% last week and a five-year average of 87%.

Highlights from state National Ag Statistics offices.

Illinois

Harvest is nearing completion. Fall fieldwork continues, but the lack of moisture remains a concern across the state. Statewide, precipitation averaged 0.01 inches, 0.65 inches below normal. The average temperature was 53.3 degrees, 2.1 degrees below normal. There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending October 18. Topsoil moisture was rated at 13% very short, 39% short, 45% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 7% very short, 34% short, 55% adequate and 4% surplus. Corn harvest is 85% complete, 43 percentage points ahead of where it was last year and well ahead of the 68% five-year average. Soybean harvest is also 85% complete, 49 percentage points higher than at the same time last year. The five-year average is also 68%.

Indiana

Dry weather and mild temperatures have helped speed along harvest, while low humidity and cool temperatures kept moisture content low for both corn and soybeans. Many farmers finished soybean harvest this week. A third of the state is considered abnormally dry, and about 8% of the state is in a moderate drought, according to the latest drought monitor. There were 6.8 days available for fieldwork, 0.4 more days than last week. The first frost of the season occurred over the weekend, but had a minor impact considering the pace of harvest. Corn and soybean harvest is well above last year and the five year average. As of Sunday, corn harvest was 64% complete, up from 45% last week and above the five-year average of 52%. Corn's average moisture was 17%, down one percentage point from last week. Soybean harvest totaled 80% complete, up from 62% last week and the 60% five-year average. Soybean moisture was pegged at 12%, unchanged from last week. Topsoil moisture: 12% very short, 41% short, 42% adequate, 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 10% very short, 40% short, 46% adequate, 4% surplus.

Iowa

Warm, dry and windy conditions allowed Iowa farmers to harvest nearly 25% of the state's corn crop during the past week. Statewide there were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork, the most days suitable for fieldwork this season. Fieldwork activities for the week included harvesting corn for grain, harvesting soybeans, fall tilling, and spreading manure. Reported concerns for the week included field fires due to the dry, windy conditions, and stalk quality with a few reports of wind damage. Topsoil moisture: 4% very short, 22% short, 70% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 2% very short, 13% short, 80% adequate and 5% surplus. Corn harvest is nearly two weeks ahead of last year but equal to the five-year average at 52%. Most of the soybean crop is dropping leaves, and 83% of the crop has been harvested, 3 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.

Kansas

Warm, dry weather prevailed statewide, providing good harvest conditions. There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 19% very short, 40% short, 40% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 15%very short, 37% short, 48% adequate and 0% surplus. Winter wheat planted was 82%, ahead of 76% last year, but near 84% for the five-year average. Emerged was 51%, behind 56% both last year and average. Corn harvested was 85% complete, well ahead of 65% last year and ahead of 78% average. Soybean harvest was 51% complete, well ahead of 29% last year, but near the 52% average. Sorghum harvest was 52% complete, well ahead of 24% last year and ahead of the 35% average.

Michigan

There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork. In the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula, where conditions have been abnormally dry over the past month, many areas received some precipitation on an almost daily basis, including some snow late in the week. In the central and southern regions of the state, the weather was cool and cloudy for much of the week, but most areas remained dry enough for harvest and fall tillage to continue at a good pace. Soybean yields continue to be better than previously expected, and occasional shower activity kept beans moist. Soybean harvest was 66% complete, compared to 49% last week and the 57% five-year average. Reported corn yields have been respectable, but moisture content has been high. In the north, there were reports of small ears and weeds due to a lack of rain earlier in the season, and some fields where the crop would not fully mature. Corn harvest for grain is 30% complete, up from 18% last week and even with the five-year average.

Minnesota

Minnesota farmers doubled their corn for grain harvest progress during the 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork this week. Most of the state experienced a killing frost towards the end of the week. Field activities for the week included fall tilling, terracing, and applying manure. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 6% very short, 26% short, 66% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short, 21% short, 74% adequate, and 1% surplus. Corn harvest for grain was 58% complete, 12 days ahead of the previous year and 4 days ahead of the five-year average. This was the first time this crop season that corn harvest was ahead of normal. Corn moisture content of grain at harvest was 17%. Soybean harvest was 97% complete, nearly 2 weeks ahead of last year and over 1 week ahead of average.

Missouri

Continued dry weather allowed fall harvest to advance. There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 29% very short, 39%short, 28% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 16% very short, 33% short, 47% adequate, and 4% surplus. Corn harvest was 89% complete, 32 percentage points ahead of last year and 12 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Soybean harvest was 50%complete, compared to 24% last year and 44% for the 5-year average.

Nebraska

While temperatures averaged two to six degrees above normal, the first frost of the season was noted in western counties which aided crop drydown. Cattle producers started to move livestock from grass to available stalk fields. There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 8% very short, 33% short, 58% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 6% very short, 29% short, 64% adequate, and 1% surplus. Corn Harvested was at 40% complete, ahead of 27% last year, but behind 46% average. Soybean harvest was at 79% complete, ahead of 66% last year, but near 81% average.

North Dakota

Dry conditions allowed producers to continue making good harvest progress. However, the threat of fire was a concern because of the persistent dry weather. Some producers stopped fall tillage activities due to dry topsoil conditions. There were reports of damage to the corn and sunflower crops caused by very strong winds early in the week. There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 6% very short, 34% short, 58% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 5% very short, 31% short, 62% adequate, and 2% surplus. Winter wheat condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 29% fair, 65% good, and 2% excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 76%, near 74% last year. Corn harvest was 37% complete, well ahead of 6% last year, but near the 35% average. Soybean harvest was 94% complete, ahead of 80% last year and 82% average.

Ohio

Weather continued to be ideal for grain harvest this week. There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork for the week. Growers were able to continue harvest at a rapid pace this week due to the dry conditions. Moisture content of corn fell one point to 17 percent and soybean moisture content fell one percent to 11 percent. While the dry weather was good for harvest, the winter wheat needs moisture as soil moisture continued to decline. Pastures could use moisture as well. Corn harvest was 55% complete, up from 35% last week and the 34% five-year average. Soybean harvest was 85% complete, 20 percentage points ahead of last week. The five-year average is 53%. Top soil moisture was rated at 12% very short, 34% short, 49% adequate and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 11% very short, 25% short, 58% adequate and 6% surplus.

Oklahoma

Dry weather continued to be prevalent throughout the state. The drought continued to expand with 28 percent of the state now rated moderate to exceptional, a 5 point increase from last week. Precipitation continued to average less than 1 inch across the state, ranging from none in the Central and Southeast districts to 0.43 of an inch in the West Central district. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly short to adequate. There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Winter wheat planted reached 78% complete, down 5 points from the previous year and unchanged from normal. Winter wheat emerged reached 49%, down 15 points from the previous year. Corn harvested reached 82%, up 6 points from the previous year and down 6 points from normal. Sorghum harvested reached 58%, up 1 point from the previous year and up 7 points from normal. Soybeans harvested reached 26%, up 4 points from the previous year and down 1 point from normal.

South Dakota

Harvest progressed rapidly, although the lack of moisture combined with high winds increased the risk for fire. There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 7% very short, 35% short, 57% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 6% very short, 31% short, 62% adequate, and 1% surplus. Corn harvest was at 39%, well ahead of 18% last year, but behind 45% average. Soybean harvest was at 90%, ahead of 85% last year, but near the 86% average. Winter wheat planted was at 97% complete, near 93% last year, but ahead of 91% average. Emerged was at 75%, ahead of 62% last year and 57% average.

Texas

Mostly dry conditions were experienced across most of the state last week. Isolated showers were experienced in areas of the Low Plains, the Lower Valley, and South Texas ranging from trace amounts upwards of 1.0 inch. Isolated areas in South Texas experienced precipitation upwards of 5.0 inches. Central Texas, East Texas, Trans-Pecos, and the Upper Coast received only scattered trace amounts to no precipitation. Topsoil moisture: 25% very short, 42% short, 31% adequate, 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture; 19% very short, 46% short, 34% adequate, 1% surplus. There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Winter wheat planting was 63% complete, up from 48% last week but behind the five-year average of 67%. Thirty five percent of the crop has emerged, compared to the 40% average. Corn and sorghum harvest continued to progress across areas of the Northern Plains. Corn harvest is currently at 75 percent, 9 points behind normal.

Wisconsin

There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork. The northern portions of the state received some showers early in the week, but the weather was largely clear, dry and windy. The first killing frost of the season hit the majority of the state this weekend with overnight temperatures dropping into the 20s. The soybeans harvest made rapid progress and corn combining was gathering steam as grain moisture continued to fall. Topsoil moisture levels were down from the previous week, with 8% surplus, 75% adequate and 17% short to very short. Subsoil moisture levels also fell, with 3% surplus, 80% adequate and 17% short to very short. Corn harvested for grain had reached 27% complete, 12 days ahead of last year but 5 days behind the five-year average. Corn moisture of grain at harvest was 22%. Seventy three percent of the soybean crop had been harvested, almost 2 weeks ahead of last year and 3 days ahead the five-year average.

National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Yr
	Week	Week	Year	Avg
Corn Mature	98	94	92	96
Corn Harvested	59	42	30	54
Soybeans Dropping Leaves	96	92	94	96
Soybeans Harvested	77	62	51	68
Cotton Bolls Opening	94	89	85	89
Cotton Harvested	31	22	28	32
Sorghum Mature	91	85	84	84
Sorghum Harvested	61	51	47	52
Rice Harvested	95	88	90	87
Winter Wheat Planted	76	64	75	77
Winter Wheat Emerged	49	33	54	49

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
Cotton	4	12	38	38	8		3	12	38	38	9		6	13	34	37	10

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