USDA won’t release its updated Crop Progress report until Tuesday due to the Columbus Day holiday. But growers sounding off on Feedback From The Field last week said conditions of corn and soybeans eased a little despite very strong average yields.

Overall yield estimates in the first week of October improved for both crops. USDA’s crop ratings also improved over the past month, which in the past translated into increases in production estimates in the agency’s October WASDE report, which comes out Thursday.

Despite very good conditions and yield estimates on average, wide variations remain across the Midwest and Plains. Corn yields ranged from 130 bushels per acre to 240 bpa, with soybeans running from 23 to 72 bpa.

“Best yields ever!“ crowed the Indiana farmer with those 72-bushel soybeans. “Normal is 50-54. Never had beans in the 70's before.”

Further east in north central Ohio another producer found 258 bpa corn on the first 27 acres cut. “Our trendline is 156 bpa,” was the post. “Last year was our best-ever at 185 bpa.”

But some other farmers coped with ongoing weather extremes, made worse by heavy accumulations over the weekend. The Wisconsin producer with the lowest yields last week for both corn and soybeans was two weeks behind due to wet conditions, with little progress made so far.

Heavy winds last week added to concerns. “Combining at a standstill,” was the view from eastern Iowa. “Corn ears look good but cornstalks very dead and some have gone down already.”

Producers in the western Corn Belt appeared disappointed overall. A western Minnesota grower expected yields to be 5% to 6% below 2017, while another in western Iowa was getting 25% less than in 2016.

“Variations in soybeans are huge,” summed up a farmer from central Nebraska, who was also worried about corn. “Not the huge crop everyone was thinking.”

 What’s happening out your way? Click this Feedback From The Field link to rate crops in your area and provide comments about your fields and yield estimates. We’ll update reports frequently with the interactive map below that lets you see what other growers are saying around the country. Click the box in the upper left-hand corner to bring up the weekly index; scroll down to see the most current week.

Follow along with the season here:

Feedback From The Field - Oct. 1, 2018 - Producers see improved conditions as more enter fields.

Feedback From the Field - Sept. 24, 2018 - Growers not as optimistic as USDA

Feedback From The Field - Sept. 17, 2018 - Growers not as optimistic as USDA, but still see better yields.

Feedback From The Field - Sept. 4, 2018 - Conditions improve last week as soybeans impress.

Feedback From The Field - Aug. 27, 2018 - Crops improved last week but some fields still suffer.

Feedback From The Field - Aug. 20, 2018 - Boom or bust yields look possible ahead of harvest.

Feedback From The Field - Aug. 9, 2018 - Farmers see good corn and soybean crops so far.

Feedback From The Field - Aug. 6, 2018 - Corn fades, beans come on.

Feedback From The Field - July 25, 2018 - Crops grow, so do worries.

Feedback From The Field - July 16, 2018 - Growers sound more optimistic about crops.

Feedback From The Field - July 12, 2018 - Yield potential ranges from boom to bust.

Feedback From The Field - July 9, 2018 - Growers voice concerns about conditions.

Feedback From The Field - July 2, 2018 - Crops hang on despite hot week.

Feedback From the Field - June 25, 2018 - Heavy rains help some fields, hurt others growers say.

Feedback From the Field - June 18, 2018 - Corn ratings slip after a hot week with hit-or-miss rains.

Feedback From the Field - June 11, 2018 - Corn improves but weekend rains could be crucial.

Feedback From the Field - June 4, 2018 - Crop conditions hold steady, but not as strong as USDA’s ratings.

Feedback From the Field - May 21, 2018 - Will corn planting progress meet the market’s models?

Feedback From the Field - May 14, 2018 - Planting progress hit or miss in the second week of May.

Feedback From the Field - May 7, 2018 - Growers make rapid planting progress outside the far north.

Feedback From the Field - May 2, 2018 - Some growers welcome this week’s rains.

Feedback From The Field - April 30, 2018 - More growers get into the field over the weekend.

Feedback From The Field - April 23, 2018 - April ending with cold, wet conditions stalling planting.

Feedback From The Field - April 19, 2018 - Rain, snow, fires and mud – this spring has it all.

Feedback From The Field - April 18, 2018 - Welcome to springtime in the Midwest.

Feedback From The Field - April 16, 2018 - Interactive tool helps growers share conditions.