The US corn and soybean harvests continued to progress well this past week, although still slower than expected.
Monday’s USDA crop progress report estimated the nationwide corn harvest at 65% complete as of Sunday, up from 47% a week earlier and well ahead of 55% last year and 52% for the five-year average. However, it still lagged the average pre-report trade guess of 70% done.
Meanwhile, the national soybean harvest advanced 14 points on the week to reach 81% complete as of Sunday. That is ahead of 67% last year and 72% on average but 6 points behind the average trade guess.
US producers should continue to make major harvest strides this week, with forecasts pointing to mostly dry Midwest weather.
In the top production state of Iowa, the corn harvest gained 23 points from a week earlier to 68% done as of Sunday, ahead of 56% last year and a major 20 points ahead of average. The Illinois harvest was 67% complete as of Sunday, up from 49% the previous week, and 8 points ahead of the state average, while Indiana was 61% done, compared to 44% a week earlier, 39% last year and 45% on average.
At 45% complete, the Michigan corn harvest climbed 14 points on the week, ahead of 22% last year and 26% on average. The Ohio harvest passed the halfway mark, reaching 51% complete as of Sunday, 32 points ahead of last year and 24 points ahead of average. The North Dakota corn harvest was 47% complete as of Sunday, versus 19% a week earlier, 40% last year and 38% on average.
The US corn crop was 98% mature as of Sunday, up 4 points on the week and modestly ahead of 97% last year and 95% on average.
As for soybeans, the Iowa harvest was nearing its end with 91% of the state crop in the bin as of Sunday, up 10 points on the week and 15 points ahead of average, while the Illinois crop was 76% harvested, up from 62% a week earlier and 9 points ahead of average. The Indiana harvest advanced to 75% done from 57% a week earlier – ahead of 61% and 62% for last year and the average.
The Michigan soy harvest gained 16 points to reach 80% complete as of Sunday, far ahead of 40% last year and 49% on average. The Ohio crop was 78% harvested, a weekly gain of 16 points and compared to 60% last year and 61% on average. The North Dakota soy crop was 89% harvested as of Sunday, versus 76% the previous week, 80% last year and 73% on average.
