Relatively dry and settled weather across central US allowed growers to make good harvest progress. This was evident in the latest USDA crop progress report, which covered the week through 4 October.

Maize harvest progress moved from 15% up to 25% last week, according to the report. This figure is ahead of the prior five-year average of 24%.

Southern states such as North Carolina (85%) and Texas (78%) continue to significantly outpace the national average.

The USDA estimates that 87% of this year’s crop is fully mature, up from 75% on the previous week and moderately ahead of the previous five-year average of 78%.

Quality

The USDA increased quality ratings of maize crops by one point, pushing the crop to 62% rated in good to excellent condition.

Another 25% of the crop was rated fair (unchanged from previous the week), with the remaining 13% rated poor or very poor (down one percentage point from the previous week). So far, it appears as though it is too early to get an estimation of yields.

Soya bean

The 2020 soya bean harvest is even further along, reaching 38% complete last week.

Louisiana (83%) leads the way, with some northern states also making impressive headway, including Minnesota (61%), North Dakota (60%) and South Dakota (60%).

The total amount of the crop rated in good to excellent condition was unchanged at 64%, although excellent-rated crops moved a point higher to 14%, while good-rated crops retreated a point lower to 50%.

Another 26% of the crop is rated fair, with the remaining 10% rated poor or very poor (all unchanged from previous week).

Winter wheat

Winter wheat planting is over 52% complete. That’s up from 35% the previous week and ahead of the five-year average (47%).

Nearly one-quarter (24%) of the crop is now emerged, also coming in above the prior five-year average of 21%.