Analysts were expecting to see solid progress for the 2023 corn and soybean harvests when USDA released its latest crop progress report Monday afternoon. The agency more than complied. Soybean harvest was noticeably above the average trade guess, while the corn harvest pace, in contrast, moved forward a bit more slowly than analysts were anticipating.

This season’s corn harvest moved from 34% a week ago up to 45% as of October 15. That was slightly below the average trade guess of 46%. There’s a pretty broad range among the top 18 production states, from Wisconsin (14%) all the way up to North Caroline (94%). This year’s pace is swifter than 2022’s mark of 43% and the prior five-year average of 42%.

Quality ratings were mostly steady, with 53% of the crop still in good-to-excellent conditions. Another 29% is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 18% rated poor or very poor (also unchanged from last week).

Soybean quality ratings moved another point higher, with 52% of the crop now in good-to-excellent condition. Analysts were not to see any changes. Another 30% of the crop is rated fair (down one point from last week), with the remaining 18% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from last week).

Physiologically, 97% of the crop is now dropping leaves, up from 93% last week. Harvest progress jumped from 43% a week ago up to 62% through Sunday. That was noticeably faster than the average trade guess of 57%. It’s also faster than 2022’s pace of 60% and the prior five-year average of 52%.

Other regional crops also made some harvest progress last week, including:

More than two-thirds (68%) of this season’s winter wheat crop has now been planted, up from 57% a week ago and mirroring the prior five-year average. And 39% of the crop is now emerged, which is up from 29% a week ago and four points below the prior five-year average.

Click here for more data from the latest UDSA crop progress report, including state-by-state pasture and range conditions.