Growers in some areas could still be harvesting this week, and adverse weather could keep some fields standing into winter. But USDA officially wraps up its Crop Progress reports Monday afternoon, when the final nationwide update of the year is put out.

Producers still cutting corn and soybeans noted lower yields and ratings last week, taking average harvest results for Feedback From The Field down a little. Still, average November corn yields came in at 173.2 bushels per acre, 2.2 bpa below USDA’s Nov. 9 estimate. October-November soybeans averaged 50 bpa, a half bushel above the government’s last production report.

The range of corn yields reported last week – 78 bpa to 220 bpa -- reflected the unusual, and in many places, challenging growing season farmers faced in 2017.  Stretches of drought, floods, cold and heat were noted, sometimes in the same field.

Wet crops are an issue for farmers still in combine. While late harvesting of corn may not be unusual for some, producers are behind on beans too.

“Soybeans were a struggle to get out,” wrote a grower from southeast Minnesota.” Not much sun the month of October. Still a lot of beans to go in our area, so I guess should feel pretty good. Corn crop was excellent, but took a lot of LP in the cold to get dry.”

Another Minnesota producer further north in the central part of the state battled uneven soybeans due to heavy rains, along with thistle and caterpillars. Cool weather and drowned out fields also hurt the corn crop, he said. “Corn had 2 less rows on it this year than last year. Test weight was down, 52 to 54 was where a lot of the corn was at.”

Growers as far south as northern Illinois were still harvesting soybeans last week while across the river in Iowa, dry conditions were the issue.

“We had no rain from the end of May until September,” said a grower southeast of Des Moines with 120-bushel corn and 30-bushel beans.

While USDA’s crop observers are shutting down for the season, we’ll keep Feedback open through the end of November. Click this Feedback From The Field link to rate crops in your area and provide yield estimates in your fields. Click the box in the upper left-hand corner of the interactive map below to bring up the weekly index; scroll down to see the most current week.

Follow season progress by clicking on the links below.

Feedback from the field - April 24, 2017 - Growers report slow start in northwest Corn Belt.

Feedback from the Field - April 28, 2017 - ‘Baby it’s cold outside’ isn’t the song farmers want to hear.

Feedback from the Field - May 8, 2017 - Emergence sputters as planting slows

Feedback from the Field - May 12, 2017 - Farms make progress but weather still an issue

Feedback from the Field - May 17, 2017 - Growers wary of this week’s new storms

Feedback from the Field - May 19, 2017 - Farmers face cold, wet end to May

Feedback from the Field - May 23, 2017 - Planting proceeds, questions remain

Feedback from the Field - May 26, 2017 - Some growers wonder if it will ever stop raining

Feedback from the Field - June 5, 2017 - Emerging drought threatens spring wheat crop

Feedback from the Field - June 7, 2017 - Progress, problems noted in early growing season

Feedback from the Field - June 12, 2017 - Conditions turned hot and dry last week

Feedback from the Field - June 19, 2017 - Rains improve conditions, but challenges remain

Feedback from the Field - June 26, 2017 - Crops improve but remain below average in year of extremes

Feedback from the Field - July 3, 2017 - Farmers report dire conditions on the northern Plains

Feedback from the Field - July 10, 2017 - Growers still say conditions are below USDA’s crop ratings

Feedback From The Field - July 17, 2017 - Too much or too little: No Goldilocks moment for U.S. crops

Feedback from the Field - July 31, 2017 - Growers say crops still suffering despite rain and cooler temperatures

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 7, 2017 - Growers note small improvement overall in corn and soybeans last week

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 14, 2017 - Crops improve but growers say yields are below USDA forecast

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 21, 2017 - Rain still crucial as growing season winds down

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 28, 2017 - Mild weather improves crops though problem pockets persist

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 5, 2017 - Growers report lower corn and soybean yields than USDA forecasts

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 11, 2017 - Yields look decent but lagging development raises red flag

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 18, 2017 - Growers beg to differ with USDA on size of crops

Feedback from the Field - Sept. 25, 2017 - Crops improve but still far below USDA estimates

Feedback from the Field - Oct. 2, 2017 - Farmers rate crops better, but yields lower

Feedback from the Field - Oct. 9, 2017 - Yield reports improve for corn and soybeans

Feedback from the Field - Oct. 16, 2017 - Weather challenges add up for some growers

Feedback from the Field - Oct. 23, 2017 - Open week gave growers better assessment of crops

Feedback from the Field - Oct. 30, 2017 - Farmer reports confirm good yields

Feedback from the Field - Nov. 6, 2017 - Crops survive litany of woes to post good, but not great, yields

Feedback from the Field - Nov. 13, 2017 - Farmers report yields in line with USDA’s forecasts

Feedback from the Field - Nov. 20, 2017 - Late harvest takes edge off yields