Prior to Monday’s USDA crop progress report, analysts were expecting the agency to make slight reductions to its corn and soybean quality ratings. However, USDA didn’t dial any changes for the week ending September 22. Today’s report also featured updates to the 2024 corn, soybean and spring wheat harvests, along with 2024/25 winter wheat plantings and much more.

Sixty-five percent of corn acres are still rated in good-to-excellent condition, although the G/E split eased from 49/16 to 50/15. Analysts were expecting to see a one-point decline, meantime. Another 23% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 12% rated poor or very poor (12%).

Physiologically, 92% of the crop is now dented, versus the prior five-year average of 91%. And 61% of the crop is fully mature, versus the prior five-year average of 55%. Harvest progress moved from 9% a week ago up to 14% through Sunday. While that was three points below analyst expectations, it is still ahead of 2023’s pace of 13% and the prior five-year average of 11%.

Soybean quality ratings remained steady, with 64% of the crop still in good-to-excellent condition. Analysts were expecting to see a one-point decline. Another 25% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 11% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from last week).

Related:Crop progress: Corn quality improves, soybean quality declines

Physiologically, 65% of the crop is now dropping leaves, up from 44% a week ago and moderately ahead of the prior five-year average of 57%. Harvest progress moved from 6% a week ago up to 13% through Sunday, mirroring analyst expectations. That’s also faster than 2023’s pace of 10% and the prior five-year average of 8%.

The spring wheat harvest moved from 92% a week ago up to 96% through September 22. That puts this season’s pace slightly ahead of the prior five-year average of 95%.

Winter wheat plantings moved from 14% a week ago up to 25% as of Sunday, meantime. Analysts were expecting progress to reach 27%. That was still slightly better than last season’s pace of 23% and the prior five-year average of 24%.

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