End Draws Nearer for Corn, Soybean Harvests

The finish line is in sight for the US corn and soybean harvests, with producers expected to get a few more days of fieldwork this week before being potentially stalled by rain. 

Monday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the nationwide corn harvest at 81% complete as of Sunday, up from 65% a week earlier and a couple of points ahead of the average pre-report trade guess. The soybean harvest was shown at 89% done as of Sunday, up 8 points on the week but a couple of points behind trade expectations. 

The corn harvest was running 13 points ahead of last year and 17 points ahead of the five-year average as of Sunday, while the soybean harvest was running 7 and 11 points ahead, respectively. 

This week is starting off dry for most of the American Midwest, although showers are forecast to move in toward the middle of the week. 

The Illinois corn harvest jumped 20 points on the week to reach 87% complete as of Sunday, versus 78% last year and 73% on average, while the Indiana harvest gained 16 points to 77% done, well ahead of 52% last year and 58% on average. The Iowa harvest was 84% complete as of Sunday, up from 68% a week earlier, 73% last year and 63% on average. 

The Michigan corn harvest advanced 17 points from the previous week to 62% complete as of Sunday, compared to 28% last year and 35% on average, while Ohio was 72% done, up from 51% a week earlier and far ahead of 26% last year and 38% on average. The North Dakota corn harvest gained 24 points to 71% done, 17 points ahead of last year and 19 points ahead of the state average. 

As for soybeans, the Illinois harvest reached 90% done as of Sunday, up from 76% a week earlier and 11 points ahead of the state average. Indiana was 87% finished, versus 75% a week earlier and 12 points ahead of last year and the average. The Iowa soybean crop was 96% in the bin, up 8 points on the week and 5 and 10 points ahead of last year and the average. 

The Michigan and Ohio soybean harvests were 91% and 90% done as of Sunday, versus 80% and 78% a week earlier and just 60% and 74% on average. The North Dakota soy harvest gained 6 points on the week to 95% complete, compared to 92% last year and 82% on average.