Despite some Midwest harvest delays in recent weeks, farmers have made up a lot of ground in their soybean fields this past week. USDA’s weekly crop progress report shows soybean harvest is just one point behind the 5 year average. USDA says 83% of the soybean crop is harvested.
Statistically there are no delays in the Eastern Corn Belt with 86% of the Illinois soybean crop and 80% of the Indiana soybean crop matching the 5 year average. With 85% of Ohio soybeans now harvested, it’s four points ahead.
But harvest troubles continue to linger in the western Corn Belt. Iowa farmers have harvested 83% of the state’s soybean crop, eight points behind average pace. The Iowa corn harvest is 44% completed, 26 points behind average. Minnesota corn harvest reached 38% completed which is 35 points behind.
Planting of the winter wheat crop is three points behind the 5 year average with 84% now seeded. Wheat leader Kansas is nine points behind in planting with 84% in the field. In the first condition rating of the season, USDA shows 55% of the crop is graded as good-excellent, 33% is fair. Montana farmers have nearly finished wheat planting with 95% seeded. But the condition rating of Montana wheat is struggling as just 22% is called good-excellent, 66% is fair.
Wes Mills and Anna-Lisa Laca contributed to this story.
