(AgProfessional) – Corn harvest has begun in earnest across the United States with 16 of the country’s top 18 corn-producing states reporting progress. Several states are ahead of their pace from 2014.
According to the USDA’s latest Crop Progress report, 10 percent of the country’s corn has been harvested, compared to 7 percent last year but behind the five-year average of 15 percent. North Carolina is leading the way with 70 percent of its corn harvest complete, followed by Texas (61 percent) and Tennessee (43 percent), the USDA reported Monday afternoon.
Compared to five-year averages, every state but Pennsylvania reported corn harvest is behind schedule. Tennessee is the furthest behind at 35 percent, compared to its five-year average of 45 percent.
Corn conditions showed modest improvement, with 7 percent of the crop in poor or very poor condition, compared to 10 percent last week.
Soybeans: Harvest cranks up
Seventeen of the 18 major soybean-producing states reported harvest progress, according to the USDA. Most states are ahead of their 2014 pace, with 7 percent of the crop harvested, compared to 3 percent last year and equal to the five-year average of 7 percent.
Louisiana was leading the way with 66 percent of its soybeans harvested, followed by Mississippi (46 percent) and Arkansas (22 percent). Harvest is underway in the northern states as well, with Minnesota and North Dakota reporting harvested soybean acres at 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively, according to the USDA report.
The crop’s condition improved slightly, with 11 percent reported to be in poor or very poor condition, compared to 12 percent last week.
