OMAHA (DTN) -- We waited until USDA's Weekly Crop Progress report came out Tuesday (delayed due to the Columbus Day holiday) to post this harvest update. But, considering one of the comments we received, maybe we shouldn't have.

A voice mail harvest report finished up with this commentary: "I cannot believe farmers are bragging about the crop they are getting or not getting. And USDA? They march to their own drum."

Well, today USDA's drum said 51% of the nation's soybeans were harvested as of Oct. 9. That compares to 19% last week and a five-year average of 46%. As long as weather holds, this is shaping up to be an early harvest. Of course, who knows how much of that is due to fewer beans to harvest?

Corn harvest was pegged at 33% complete, compared to 21% last week and a 32% five-year average.

Here are the latest reports we've received, sorted by method of delivery.

EMAIL

Freeport, Michigan

"I'm a small hobby farmer from Freeport, Mich. Finished beans last Saturday and went pretty good. Test weights ranged from 56.5 to 58.5. Yields finished at around 58.3 bpa and moisture was 9.1% to 10.5%. Thankful for great weather last week to get them done. Went to elevator and saw a lot of green combines going full tilt."

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Greene County, Illinois

"Harvest is near completion in this area. Yields have been great with the lack of rain in August. Two fields of corn made 200 bushels per acre. Averaged 180 over the farm.

"Bean harvest is almost done. Last week the stems were green and tough going. Moisture was 11%. Most have been under 9%. Yields have been good. One field of light timber soil, that never made over 40 went 58. Most farmers say they are pleased with their yields."

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Western Kentucky

"I leased 30 acres of excess bottomland hay ground that I didn't need to a row-crop farmer this year. Finished harvest last week and came in just shy of 4,000 bushels for average of about 130-135 bpa. Moisture levels ranged from 17.5 to 19.5

"Corn was planted late (mid May) due to excess spring rains and even then the low spots didn't germinate due to excess moisture. Not bad for ground that hasn't been row-cropped in 20 years.

"I'm very pleased considering circumstances."

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Northwest Indiana

"Breaking even."

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FACEBOOK

A post from DTN/The Progressive Farmer's wall

"Two days into beans, coffee shop yields are in the high 40s, but the field yields are closer to 35. Early frost really messed up what was looking like a very nice crop six weeks ago. Most beans here did not go in until mid-June and the ground was still cold and wet then. Treated beans seem to be running 3-5 better than non-treated."

TEXTS

Central Arkansas

"Corn was pretty good around 145 bpa. Beans are looking pretty good. Guessing around 50 bpa. 16.7 inches of rain hurt worse than expected once combines fired up. Then 100-degree days during pollination. Fall field work is half finished but need rain. Trying to deep rip but can't pull them as deep as I would like. Rain, Rain, Rain!!!"

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South of Grand Forks, North Dakota

"Beans were average to a little above. Corn disappointing at 75 to 100. Hoping for 120 to 150; last year 180. Too much water damage and 10 to 20 bushels worth of cobs on the ground from big winds on Saturday."

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Lower-Central Michigan

"Hot, dry July, light sandy ground. Soy 20 to 70 bushel, 54 average. All dryland, 276 acres, eight different fields, very dry beans. Ran little corn, head land only disappointing, 35 acres 135 dry bushels, 10 days ago."

Voicemails

Minnesota

Disappointing. Soybeans 20 bpa. Same field run from 5 bpa to 60 bpa. Averaging 25 to 35 bpa."

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North-Central Wisconsin

Sandy loam soil. Too many hot days, not enough rain. 70 bushel corn. 17 to 19 percent moisture, 55 to 56 test weight -- we were surprised about that. This is Sunday, we are pulling the plug. The Brewers are playing, the Packers are playing. We're shutting down harvest to have a beer because we need to have a good moment.

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West-Central Indiana

"100 acres, beans 1 or 2 bpa better than five-year average; 100 acres, 8 bpa under average; 400 acres corn, 140 bushels, 45 bushels under five-year average."

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It's a busy time of year for you and we know that. But, if you can find a few minutes between truckloads or while you wolf down that sandwich, we'd love it if you would let us know what you are finding in your fields.

We can be reached by email at talk@telventdtn.com or any of our individual email addresses. Mine is cheri.zagurski@telventdtn.com. You can also text me at 402-301-8732 or Bryce Anderson 402-594-4248. Voicemail messages can be left at those numbers, too, or you can call 800-369-7675. That number rings right in the newsroom. On Twitter, you can send me a message. I'm @cherizagurski. Or feel free to message any of our Tweeters. DTN also has a Facebook page, DTN/The Progressive Farmer. You can post a message on our wall. http://www.facebook.com/…

Tell us where you farm and any items of note you're finding as you start the combine. Yields, moisture levels, unusual damage. Anything. We'll gather these comments into regular updates for our readers. Check the home page of www.dtnpf.com orwww.dtnprogressivefarmer.com regularly for new information.

We hope to hear from you. Here's to a safe, speedy and prosperous harvest.

Cheri Zagurski can be contacted at cheri.zagurski@telventdtn.com

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