Dry weather and warmer temperatures across the Corn Belt over the past couple of weeks have accelerated corn maturity and an early start to harvest, according to the USDA Crop Progress report released on 9/8. Conditions across corn and soybeans have held relatively steady over the prior week as well.

Corn

  • 64% rated Good/Excellent (65% prior week)
  • 95% has reached the dough growth stage (90% prior week)
  • 74% has reached the dent growth stage (60% prior week)
  • 5% harvested (4% at this point last year, 2% ahead of the five-year average)

Soybeans

  • 65% rated Good/Excellent (same rating as prior week)
  • 97% has reached the prod growth stage (94% prior week)
  • 25% of the crop is dropping leaves (13% prior week)

Winter wheat

  • Spring wheat: 85% has been harvested in the top six states (70% prior week)
  • Winter wheat: 6% has been planted across 11 of the 18 top-growing states.

With more dry and warm weather expected this week across the country, the corn harvest percentage will more than likely see another jump on next week’s report.

Read more commentary on the 9/8 USDA Crop Progress report.