USDA Crop Progress Report - Corn 45% Harvested, Soybeans 63% Harvested Week Ended Oct. 16

OMAHA (DTN) -- Corn and soybean harvest continued ahead of the average pace last week, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday. Mostly favorable harvest weather expected this week should extend that trend, according to DTN forecasts.

CORN

-- Harvest progress: 45% of corn was harvested as of Sunday, Oct. 16, up 14 percentage points from the previous week. This year's harvest progress is now 5 percentage points behind last year's 50% but 5 percentage point ahead of the five-year average of 40%. Iowa's corn is 38% harvested, above its usual pace, while Illinois is 47% harvested, below its usual pace, noted DTN Lead Analyst Todd Hultman.

-- Crop development: Corn mature was estimated at 94%, 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 92%.

-- Crop condition: 53% of corn remaining in fields was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 54% the previous week but 7 percentage points below last year's rating of 60%.

SOYBEANS

-- Harvest progress: 63% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, up 19 percentage points from the previous week. That is now 5 percentage points ahead of last year's 58% and 11 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 52%. "Soybeans in Iowa are 74% harvested, 25 percentage points above the five-year average pace for this time of year," Hultman said.

-- Crop development: 96% of soybeans were dropping leaves, 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 94%.

-- Crop condition: 57% of soybeans remaining in fields were rated in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week but 2 percentage points below last year's rating of 59%.

WINTER WHEAT

-- Planting progress: 69% of winter wheat was planted as of Sunday, even with last year and now 1 percentage point ahead of the average pace of 68%.

-- Crop development: 38% of winter wheat was emerged as of Sunday, still 6 percentage points behind the five-year average of 44%. "Kansas winter wheat is 64% planted, but only 33% emerged so far, less than the five-year average of 44% emerged this time of year," Hultman said.

WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

Much of the country east of the Rockies will see favorable weather conditions for harvesting this week, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.

"We have a very cold airmass settling into the country east of the Rockies," Baranick said. "Widespread frosts and freezes early this week could delay harvesters a couple of hours while the sun warms things up and dries out. But, overall, good harvest conditions are expected this week. Areas that will not are centered around the Great Lakes where the cold air flowing over the warm lakes will continue to produce areas of lake-effect and enhanced showers. They will be a mix of rain and snow as well, leading to accumulation in prone areas, annoying those yet to harvest. Those will occur through Wednesday or Thursday before ending.

"But we'll be going through a pattern change this weekend. The ridge of high pressure west of the Rockies will be shifting eastward late this week and weekend, which will cause temperatures to rise east of the Rockies, helping to dry out any areas where moisture is higher either in the soils or in the seeds. At the same time, a trough will slide down the Pacific Coast, bringing showers back into the Pacific Northwest starting Friday night and continuing into next week. This weekend, the trough will send a piece of energy into the Plains where showers should increase as well, which continues into next week. Increasing showers will help out winter grain establishment at least to some degree, but that won't show up for two more Crop Progress reports."