Corn harvest advanced 9 points in a week to 27% done as of Sunday, while the soybean harvest doubled to 42% done, the USDA crop progress report said.

Winter wheat planting reached 49%, compared with 54% a year ago and 51% average, with emergence at 20% versus 26% last year and the 22% average.  Kansas was 46% planted and 20% emerged.

The 27% corn harvest pace matched the Farm Futures' forecast, while soybeans at 42% were a little better than our 40%.

Corn stays at 68% good/excellent; soybeans improve to 64% in USDA crop progress report (Thinkstock/Fotokostic)

Corn's condition stayed at 68% good to excellent, with slight improvements seen in Illinois, while Iowa and Indiana were unchanged. Soybeans improved 2 points to 64% helped by a 5-point rise in the Illinois crop and 1-point increase in Indiana. Iowa was unchanged.

Iowa's corn harvest was at 13%, ahead last year's 5% but behind the 24% average, and soybeans reached 32%. Illinois corn was 50% harvested and soybeans were 49% cut, compared with the averages of 24% and 35%.

"Mostly dry conditions allowed Iowa farmers to harvest one-quarter of the state's soybean crop during the week ending October 4," Iowa said.

Nationally, sorghum was 43% harvested versus 36% a year ago and the 37% average. The crop was unchanged at 65% good to excellent.

Cotton was 16% harvested and 77% had bolls open versus the 18% and 78% averages. The crop slipped 2 points to 48% good/excellent.