In this week’s report, USDA reported corn harvest nationwide moved up to 61 percent complete - now NINE points ahead of its five-year average. In the I-80 Corridor, Illinois and Nebraska are tied for the lead with 65 percent of their crops now harvested. Ohio lags behind with only 36 percent done. While some states in the South and Southeast are basically done, it is noteworthy that Kansas rapidly moved up to 83 percent complete due in large part to the crop failure in the majority of the state.
The national soybean harvest is pegged at 80 percent complete compared to its 67 percent average pace. In the I-80 Corridor, Nebraska is already coming down the home stretch with 93 percent of its crop out of the field. Iowa is making quick work of harvest this year as it has reached 88 percent completion as of Sunday. Even Ohio is running ahead of its five-year average pace by two points as it registered 70 percent completion.
Cotton harvest is 45 percent complete nationwide this week. That compares to its five-year average of 39 percent by this time of year. Mississippi is far ahead of the other key producing states with 77 percent now done. North Carolina jumped up to 44 percent completion. Interestingly, the largest producing state of Texas only advanced by one single percentage point last week.
Grain sorghum harvest comes in at 67 percent nationwide - still eight points ahead of its five-year average. The number one producing state of Texas is totally finished. South Dakota reports 68 percent completion while Nebraska and Oklahoma both show that 55 percent of their crops are now cut.
Rice harvest nationwide is, for all intents and purposes, done for the year with all of the major producing states showing completion rates of 94 percent or more. Out west, California is running behind schedule with only 75 percent harvested - 14 points behind its average pace.
Peanut harvest was reported to be 68 percent complete across the nation - nine points ahead of the five-year average. Florida is said to be 84 percent done with its harvest, even with the interruption of Hurricane Ian a few weeks ago. Virginia is 85 percent complete. The top producing state of Georgia is now finished with harvest on 72 percent of its acres.
Winter wheat planting is moving right along and has now reached 79 percent completion nationwide - one point ahead of its five-year average of 78 percent. Nebraska and South Dakota are basically done with 96 percent of their acres seeded. Kansas has moved up to 76 percent. The rains that went through earlier today (Monday) covered much of northern Texas, most of Oklahoma, and the southeastern two thirds of Kansas, but MISSED the northwestern third of the state where much of the crop is planted, so that bears watching.
Pasture conditions in the central and southern Plains either held steady or saw slight deterioration with Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska all registering two point declines in their good to excellent ratings. Further north, North Dakota dropped by five points! However, in the Rockies states, we saw a general improvement in pasture conditions. The New Mexico rating improved the most by picking up four points.
In the topsoil moisture deficit category (generally considered to measure the top four inches of soil representing the seed planting and sprouting zone), it doesn’t get any drier than Oklahoma where 98 percent of its acres are classified as either short or very short on moisture. Kansas once again captures second place with 91 percent. Mississippi reported a HUGE decline in topsoil moisture availability as it added 10 points to the short to very short categories.
In the subsoil moisture deficit category (considered to measure deep soil moisture down to a few feet where the crop roots would extend downward), Oklahoma again leads the list with the same 97 percent of its acreage rated short to very short - just like last week. Kansas is now ranked second driest with 91 percent in the combined categories. Montana actually saw an improvement in its moisture availability, but it still shows 87 percent in the driest two categories.
Crop Progress - 221024- RFD TABLES.pdf
