This is one of the few times of year where USDA supplies both planting and harvest data in its weekly crop progress report. While the agency isn’t reporting on the corn and soybean harvests just yet, it continues to show spring wheat harvest progress, which has reached 70% in the week through September 1. Meantime, the upcoming winter wheat crop is just starting to be planted.

Corn quality ratings held steady this past week, with 65% of the crop still in good-to-excellent condition as of Sunday. Analysts were expecting to see a one-point decline. Another 23% of the crop is rated fair (up one point from last week), with the remaining 12% rated poor or very poor (down one point from last week).

Physiologically, 90% of the crop is now in dough stage, up from 84% a week ago and mirroring the prior five-year average. Sixty percent of the crop is now dented, up from 46% a week ago and slightly ahead of the prior five-year average of 58%. And 19% of the crop is now fully mature, up from 11% last week and six points ahead of the prior five-year average.

Soybean quality ratings faced a two-point drop last week, with 65% of the crop now in good-to-excellent condition. Analysts were only expecting to see a one-point drop. Another 25% of the crop is rated fair (up one point from last week), with the remaining 10% rated poor or very poor (also up one point from last week).

Physiologically, 94% of the crop is now setting pods, which is just ahead of the prior five-year average of 93%. And 13% is now dropping leaves, versus the prior five-year average of 10%.

USDA is no longer tracking spring wheat quality ratings after harvest passed the halfway mark. This past week, harvest progress moved from 51% a week ago up to 70% through September 1. That leaves this season’s harvest slightly ahead of 2023’s pace of 68% and identical to the prior five-year average.

Winter wheat plantings for the upcoming 2024/25 season made it to 2% completion as of Sunday, which mirrors the prior five-year average so far. Only eight of the top 18 production states have noted measurable progress so far.

Click here for more data from the latest UDSA crop progress report, including other regional crop information, plus a state-by-state look at topsoil moisture, days suitable for fieldwork and more.