Another dry week allowed advances in the corn and soybean harvests, with the corn harvest now ahead of the five-year average at 85% done and the soybeans at 93%, up 2 points from the average, USDA said on Monday.

USDA’s winter wheat rating was unchanged at 58% good to excellent (48% good, 10% excellent), which was better than last year’s 51% for the same week.  However, conditions decreased slightly from a week ago in Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma in the Plains.

Iowa’s corn harvest was at 86% complete, compared with the 88% five-year average while the soybean harvest there was 95% done, compared with the 97% average. The state had six days suitable for fieldwork.

Winter wheat planting was at 91%, compared with 91% a year ago and the 92% average. Emergence was at 79%, versus 78% a year ago and the 78% average. (Photo: HaiGala/Thinkstock)

“Corn for grain continued to be piled outside as storage becomes tighter,” Iowa said. “Corn and soybean harvest in southwest and south central Iowa continues to lag behind the rest of the state.”

In Illinois, corn harvest was at 94%, versus 99% a year ago and the 92% average. Soybeans there were 95% harvested, versus 99% a year ago and the 95% average. Farmers in Illinois are turning to fall tillage and waiting for the ground to cool to apply ammonia.

In Indiana, corn harvest was at 87% versus the 81% average and soybeans were at 91% versus the 90% average. Rain last week slowed harvest in the northern areas of the state

Winter wheat planting was at 91%, compared with 91% a year ago and the 92% average. Emergence was at 79%, versus 78% a year ago and the 78% average.

Kansas wheat was 84% emerged versus the 87% average.

Kansas wheat’s crop’s condition dropped 1 point in the latest week to 56% good to excellent.  Farm Futures calculated that decline in ratings could equate to about a 0.4 bushel drop in the state’s average yield. Kansas’ topsoil moisture was rated 3% surplus and 61% adequate a decline from the previous week’s 3% surplus and 65% adequate.

Colorado’s wheat dropped to 51% good/excellent from 57% a week ago and Oklahoma’s slipped to 54% from 55%. Farm Futures’ calculated Colorado’s change equates to about a 0.8 bpa drop in average yield, while the Oklahoma change equates to about a 0.5 drop.

 Nationally, sorghum was 84% harvested versus the 83% average.