Corn harvest nationwide reached 71 percent completion - compared to its five-year average of 66 percent. In the I-80 Corridor, Illinois is up to 81 percent with Iowa at 77 percent and Nebraska at 76 percent. The eastern part of the Corridor continues to run well behind schedule with Ohio reporting only 29 percent of its harvest done - a full 20 points behind its average pace.
Soybean harvest across the nation is up to 85 percent as the vast majority of harvest is wrapped up. In the I-80 Corridor, Iowa and Nebraska have over 90 percent of their soybeans in the bin. Illinois followed closely behind with 89 percent. Oddly enough, while Ohio is way behind in its corn harvest progress, its soybean harvest is actually four points ahead of its average pace at 80 percent.
Cotton harvest moved up to 49 percent completion nationwide which is still two points ahead of its five-year average. Of the major producing states, Mississippi is far and away the leader with 84 percent of its acres now harvested compared to its 72 percent average pace. Alabama has made it up to 53 percent, and the largest producing state of Texas is now up to 43 percent.
Grain sorghum harvest nationally has pushed up to 77 percent completion, which is still six points ahead of schedule. Texas is 100 percent done. South Dakota surged up to 77 percent while all the other Plains states are at or above 60 percent.
Winter wheat planting is up to 84 percent across the country - only one point behind its average progress. In the Plains, Nebraska is 100 percent finished while South Dakota is close behind at 97 percent. Kansas reports 91 percent completion while the southern Plains states have a little way to go yet.
The first national winter wheat condition rating for this year pegs the crop at 47 percent good to excellent. In the key Plains production states, South Dakota is off to the best start with a good to excellent rating of 59 percent. Kansas has the poorest start with a rating of 32 percent
Pasture conditions improved in the majority of states. In the Plains, Nebraska and South Dakota report the best conditions with over 50 percent of their acres classified as good to excellent. Texas reports only 10 percent in those same categories and Kansas has only 13 percent. In the Southwest, New Mexico went backwards big time as it declined by 15 points all the way down to only 10 percent in the good to excellent categories.
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 maintains a firm grasp on the driest rating with 88 percent of its acres in the poor to very poor moisture categories. Alabama comes in at second place with 85 percent after seeing its condition decline by nine points since a week ago.
In the subsoil moisture deficit report (considered to measure deep soil moisture down to a few feet where the crop roots would extend downward), Alabama knocked New Mexico out of the driest spot as it posted a 14-point decline in moisture availability to move it up to 90 percent in the short to very short categories. Even though New Mexico reported a nine-point improvement in this section, it still reports a moisture deficit on 89 percent of its acres.
HAVE A GOOD REST OF THE GROWING SEASON AND 2023!
Crop Progress - 231030.pdf
