Corn harvest nationwide reached 59 percent completion - five points ahead of the five-year average. In the I-80 Corridor, Illinois is still in the lead with 70 percent of its crop now out of the field. Nebraska and Iowa are tied for second with 62 percent. On the eastern end of the Corridor, Ohio lags its average pace by 16 points with only 20 percent harvested as of Sunday.
Soybean harvest across the nation continues to make good progress as it now stands at 76 percent. In the I-80 Corridor, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska all have at least 80 percent of their soybeans in the bin. Indiana and Ohio are close to their average pace for this time of year with nearly two thirds of their acres cut.
Cotton harvest moved up to 41 percent completion nationwide which is two points ahead of its five-year average. Of the major producing states, Mississippi is in the lead by far with 70 percent of its acres now harvested compared to its 61 percent average pace. Alabama made the most progress as it now reports 41 percent completion. Texas is now at 40 percent.
Grain sorghum harvest nationally has reached the 67 percent level which puts it six points ahead of schedule. Texas is wrapping up with only three percent left to be cut. South Dakota reports that 65 percent of its crop has been harvested. Kansas moved up to 57 percent.
Winter wheat planting is up to 77 percent across the country - only one point behind its average progress. In the Plains, South Dakota and Nebraska are basically done and Kansas says it has sown 85 percent of its acres.
Pasture conditions seemed to show slippage in most areas this week. In the Plains, Nebraska pastureland ratings declined by eight points in the good to excellent categories, pulling their rating down to 44 percent. Texas still has the worst rating of only seven percent. Kansas isn’t faring much better as it only shows 10 percent. In the mountain states, Montana reported a 12-point decline, but its neighbor, Wyoming, turned in a 10-point improvement.
In the topsoil moisture deficit report (generally considered to measure the top four inches of soil representing the seed planting and sprouting zone), New Mexico almost unbelievably expanded its acres reporting short to very short moisture conditions to a whopping 98 percent - a full 11 points more than last week! Mississippi comes in second with 82 percent in the driest categories. Like New Mexico, Texas also went backwards by 11 points to put it in a tie with Louisiana at 81 percent.
In the subsoil moisture deficit report (considered to measure deep soil moisture down to a few feet where the crop roots would extend downward), New Mexico matches its topsoil rating with 98 percent of its acres considered to be short to very short on moisture. Louisiana holds down second place with 86 percent and Texas overtook Mississippi for the third position on the list.
Crop Progress - 231023.pdf
