USDA’s latest crop progress report, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through September 15, held a mixed bag of quality data for traders to digest. Analysts were expecting to see a one-point decline for both corn and soybean ratings. That’s what ended up happening for soybeans, but USDA unexpectedly raised ratings for corn by a point. USDA also showed updates for spring wheat harvest and winter wheat plantings in today’s report.

Analysts expected to see 63% of the corn crop rated in good-to-excellent condition in the week through September 15, but USDA instead marked a one-point improvement, with 65% of the crop now rated in good-to-excellent condition. Another 23% of the crop is rated fair (down one point from last week), with the remaining 12% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from last week).

Physiologically, 85% of the crop is now dented, versus the prior five-year average of 84%. And 45% is now fully mature, versus the prior five-year average of 38%. Harvest progress moved to 9%, which is slightly below the average trade guess of 10% but still ahead of the prior five-year average of 6%.

Soybean quality ratings moved one point lower this past week, matching analyst expectations. That has 64% of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition through Sunday. Another 25% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 11% rated poor or very poor (up one point from last week).

Physiologically, 44% of the crop is now dropping leaves, up from 25% a week ago and moderately faster than the prior five-year average of 37%. USDA also made its first harvest progress estimates, with 6% completion as of September 15. That’s ahead of 2023’s pace of 4% and the prior five-year average of 3%.

The 2024 spring wheat harvest is nearly complete after moving from 85% a week ago up to 92% through Sunday. That puts this year’s effort modestly ahead of 2023’s pace of 91% and the prior five-year average of 90%.

Winter wheat plantings moved from 6% a week ago up to 14% as of September 14, which is slightly above the average trade guess of 13%. It’s also modestly faster than the prior five-year average of 13%.

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.