USDA Weekly Crop Progress

OMAHA (DTN) -- Three-quarters of the nation's corn and 87% of the soybeans were harvested as of Oct. 25, according to USDA's latest weekly Crop Progress report.

Corn is 75% harvested, compared to 59% last week and a 68% five-year average. "Monday's report was neutral-to-bearish for corn," said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman. Hultman added that the report was neutral for soybeans.

Winter wheat planting is 83% complete, compared to 76% last week and an 85% five-year average. Sixty-two percent of the crop is emerged, compared to 49% last week and a 62% five-year average.

"USDA said 47% of winter wheat was rated good-to-excellent, down from 59% a year ago," Hultman said. "DTN's Winter Wheat Condition Index was 126, down from 153 a year ago and down from the five-year average of 132. This report is neutral for wheat."

Ninety-five percent of sorghum is mature and 71% is harvested, compared to 94% and 61% last week and five-year averages of 92% and 61%, respectively.

Ninety-five percent of the cotton crop has bolls opening, compared to 94% last week and the five-year average of 94%. Cotton is 42% harvested, compared to 31% last week and a 43% five-year average.

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

The state received an abundant amount of precipitation this past week, replenishing moisture supplies and reducing field activity. In spite of wet conditions, harvesting progressed rapidly where it was feasible. Winter wheat emergence advanced at a faster pace as a result of significant moisture events. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 8% very short, 34% short and 58% adequate. Subsoil moisture was rated 9% very short, 32% short and 59% adequate. Corn was 31% harvested, behind the five-year average of 57%. Sorghum was 47% harvested, ahead of the average of 31%. Winter wheat emerged was 83%, near the average pace of 85%.

Illinois

Light rainfall made its way across the state last week, but dry soil remained a concern. Statewide, precipitation averaged 0.30 inch, 0.38 inch below normal. The average temperature was 59.9 degrees, 7.8 degrees above normal. There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated at 14% very short, 45% short, 38% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated at 11% very short, 36% short, 50% adequate and 3% surplus. Corn harvest was 93% complete, 36 percentage points ahead of last year at this time. Soybean harvest was 93% complete, 34 percentage points ahead of last year at this time. Sorghum harvest was 88% complete, compared to 54% complete last year and the five-year average of 73%. Winter wheat planted reached 84%, a jump of 21 percentage points from the previous week. Winter wheat condition was rated 58% good to excellent.

Indiana

Some parts of the state finally received some rain over the weekend, but it was not enough to affect harvest or to improve drought conditions. Temperatures remained above average and continued to dry down corn and soybeans. That, coupled with very little precipitation, expanded the drought areas to cover approximately 78% of the state, according to the latest drought monitor. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 14% very short, 44% short, 38% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 12% very short, 41% short, 43% adequate and 4% surplus. Corn harvested for grain was 82% complete as of Sunday, ahead of the five-year average of 63%. Average moisture content for corn was 16%. Soybeans were 91% harvested, also ahead of the average of 73%. Average moisture content for soybeans was 11%. Winter wheat was 86% planted and 57% emerged. Winter wheat condition was rated 59% good to excellent.

Iowa

Widespread rain returned to Iowa this past for the first time since Sept. 29. The statewide average precipitation for the week was 0.63 inch, just slightly more than the weekly normal of 0.56 inch. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 8.1 degrees above normal. Soil temperatures as of Sunday were averaging near 50 degrees across northern Iowa to the mid-50s over the south-central and southeastern portions of the state. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 5% very short, 19% short, 73% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 4% very short, 14% short, 77% adequate and 5% surplus. Seventy-three percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, 12 days ahead of last year, and three days ahead of the five-year average. Moisture content of all corn being harvested was at 16%, down 1 percentage point from the previous week with scattered reports of grain coming out of the field and going straight into the bin. Ninety-two percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, nine days ahead of last year, and two days ahead of normal. Harvest progress of both corn and soybeans in southwest and south-central Iowa continued to lag behind the rest of the state.

Kansas

Temperatures of 4 to 10 degrees above normal were reported across the state this past week. The western half of the state received up to 3 inches of rain, while the eastern half remained mostly dry. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 14% very short, 38% short, 46% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 13% very short, 36% short and 51% adequate. Corn harvested was 91%, ahead of 76% last year and 86% average. Soybeans harvested were 70%, well ahead of 49% last year, but near 69% average. Sorghum harvested was 66%, well ahead of 36% last year and ahead of 50% average. Winter wheat planted was 91%, ahead of 86% last year, but equal to the five-year average. Emerged was 67%, near 70% both last year and average. Winter wheat condition was rated 41% good to excellent.

Michigan

There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork. While many parts of the state saw sporadic shower activity throughout the week, most producers reported this was a good week for harvest and were able to get a lot of work done between showers. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, six counties in the northwestern Upper Peninsula have been classified as seeing moderate drought conditions, while more several more counties in the central and southern Lower Peninsula have been classified as abnormally dry. Corn and soybean harvest pace remained well above average; growers continue to report above average moisture content, but weather conditions were favorable for crops drying down. Wheat seeding was nearly complete; many have reported emergence has been good in early planted fields, although germination has been slow in drier parts of the State. Sugarbeet harvest pace increased this week; yields have been very good, although sugar content remains lower than desired due to damage from cercospora leaf spot. Other activities for the week included fall tillage, mowing orchards, raking leaves, machinery repair, disking corn stalks, and cutting hay.

Minnesota

Minnesota farmers harvested almost one-quarter of their corn acreage during the 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork this past week. Although this was the fewest days suitable for fieldwork in four weeks, harvest continued to advance rapidly. Rain during the week helped replenish topsoil moisture levels across most of the state. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short, 22% short, 73% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short, 19% short, 76% adequate and 1% surplus. Corn harvested for grain was 81% complete, 12 days ahead of the previous year and almost one week ahead of the five-year average. Corn moisture content at harvest averaged 16%. Soybean harvest was virtually complete, over one week ahead of average.

Missouri

Missouri received light precipitation across most of the state; however, farmers still made good progress harvesting row crops. Temperatures averaged 61.7 degrees, 7.4 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.30 inch statewide, 0.46 inch below normal. There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 28% very short, 38% short, 30% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 17% very short, 35% short, 45% adequate and 3% surplus.

Nebraska

Above-normal temperatures for the second week in a row supported. Temperatures averaged 6 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. Precipitation of up to 1 inch late in the week slowed fieldwork, but lowered dust levels and supported establishment of winter wheat stands. Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies were rated 7% very short, 28% short, 63% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 6% very short, 30% short, 63% adequate and 1% surplus. Corn harvested was at 57%, ahead of 38% last year, but behind 62% for the five-year average. Sorghum harvested was at 55%, ahead of 47% last year, but near 57% average. Soybeans harvested were at 90%, ahead of 84% last year, but near 92% average. Winter wheat emerged was at 92%, near 93%l ast year, but ahead of 87% average. Winter wheat condition was rated 61% good to excellent.

North Dakota

Temperatures ranged from 4 to 8 degrees above normal across the state. Up to 1 inch of rain was received statewide. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% very short, 27% short, 66% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% very short, 28% short, 65% adequate and 2% surplus. Winter wheat emerged was 88%, near 84% last year. Winter wheat condition was rated 68% good to excellent. Corn harvested was 64%, well ahead of 20% last year and also ahead of 55% for the five-year average. Soybeans harvested were 98%, ahead of 92% last year and 90% average.

Ohio

Growers were able to continue harvesting at a rapid pace this past week due to dry conditions. Moisture content of corn fell one point to 16% and soybean moisture content remained unchanged at 11%. While the dry weather was optimal for harvest, the winter wheat and cover crops reportedly need moisture as soil moisture continued to decline, with over half the topsoil and subsoil soil moisture content rated as short to very short. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 16% very short, 36% short, 43% adequate and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 15% very short, 26% short, 54% adequate and 5% surplus. Corn harvested for grain was 76%, well ahead of the average pace of 46%. Soybeans were 93% harvested also well ahead of the average of 67%. Winter wheat was 92% planted and 67% was emerged, ahead of the average of 43% emerged. Winter wheat condition was rated 59% good to excellent.

Oklahoma

Despite heavy rain during the latter part of the week in the panhandle, southeast, and south-central areas, dry weather was prevalent throughout the state for much of the week. The drought continued to expand with 36% of the state now rated moderate to exceptional, an 8-point increase from the week prior. According to the Oklahoma Mesonet, the heaviest rainfall was in the southeastern quarter of the state while the totals in the north-central area were less than anticipated. Precipitation increased to an average of 1.7 inches across the state, ranging from 0.3 inch in the north-central district to 3.59 inches in the south-central district. Statewide temperatures averaged in the low-to-mid 60s, with the lowest recorded at 31 degrees at Seiling on Sunday, Oct. 25, and the highest recorded at 88 degrees at Freedom on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly adequate to short. There were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork.

South Dakota

Warm, dry weather allowed continued harvest progress this past week. Temperatures ranged from 2 to 10 degrees above normal statewide. Cooler temperatures prevailed later in the week as rain became widespread across eastern South Dakota. Drier weather returned and some locations resumed fieldwork by the end of the reporting period. Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies were rated 7% very short, 26% short, 66% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 7% very short, 29% short, 63% adequate and 1% surplus. Corn harvested was at 60%, well ahead of 32% last year, but near 63% for the five-year average. Soybeans harvested were at 96%, near 95% last year and 94% average. Winter wheat emerged was at 89%, ahead of 72% last year, and well ahead of 66% average. Winter wheat condition was rated 66% good to excellent. Sorghum harvested was at 63%, near 66% last year, but behind 77% average.

Texas

Heavy rainfall was reported across most of the state last week. Areas of the Blacklands received upwards six inches with isolated areas recording upwards of 20 inches of rainfall. In areas of the upper coast, south-central and east Texas precipitation reached upwards of six inches, with isolated areas in the upper coast and south-central Texas reaching upwards of 10 inches. Across the rest of the state precipitation ranged from trace amounts to upwards of 3.0 inches of rain, with some areas of the northern high plains and southern low plains receiving upwards of 6 inches. Hail was reported in areas of the Trans-Pecos. Winter wheat and oat seeding continued, with some delays being experienced in areas of the northern high plains, the southern low plains, the Cross Timbers and the Blacklands due to past weeks rains. Recent moisture contributed to the continued development of wheat and oats. Widespread rain delayed cotton harvest in the Plains. Some cotton fields in areas of the Trans-Pecos suffered damage due to hail storms, while in areas of the southern low plains, cotton producers sprayed fields with boll opener and desiccants.

Wisconsin

There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. Fieldwork was going strong this week until weekend rain stalled progress. Corn and soybeans were being combined statewide with average to very good yields and good test weights reported. Reporters commented that ideal drying conditions the past several weeks have promoted crop maturation and brought grain moistures down rapidly. Some reporters noted that corn stalks have had trouble standing through recent strong winds. Winter wheat planting was wrapping up, though dry soil conditions have reportedly slowed the emergence of wheat in some areas. Pastures were noted to be in unusually good condition for this time of year thanks to mild fall weather. Topsoil moisture levels fell slightly from the previous week, with 5% surplus, 76% adequate and 19% short to very short. Subsoil moisture levels also slipped, with 3% surplus, 78% adequate and 19% short to very short. Corn and soybean harvest is two weeks ahead of last year. Corn moisture of grain at harvest was 20%, 2 percentage points drier than the previous week. Winter wheat emergence is nine days ahead of last year. Fall tillage was at 46% complete.

National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Yr
	Week	Week	Year	Avg
Corn Harvested	75	59	44	68
Soybeans Harvested	87	77	68	80
Cotton Bolls Opening	95	94	90	94
Cotton Harvested	42	31	40	43
Sorghum Mature	95	91	90	92
Sorghum Harvested	71	61	55	61
Winter Wheat Planted	83	76	83	85
Winter Wheat Emerged	62	49	65	62

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
Cotton	4	12	37	38	9		4	12	38	38	8		6	12	34	38	10
Winter Wht	3	11	39	37	10		NA	NA	NA	NA	NA		1	6	34	50	9

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