(Farm Futures) -Clear weather provided another week for swift harvesting with the U.S. corn harvest at 89% done, a 9 point jump from a week ago to put it 1 point above the five-year average, USDA said on Monday.
The soybean harvest improved 4 points to 94% done, just behind the 96% average.
The harvest paces were a little better than what Farm Futures had expected, as was the 60% good to excellent rating on wheat.
In Iowa, the top corn and soybean producer, corn harvest jumped 10 points to 92% and is now slightly ahead of the 90% average. Soybeans were 98% harvested there versus 99% a year ago and the 99% average.
Winter wheat unchanged at 60% good/excellent
Winter wheat planting was at 95% as of Sunday versus 99% a year ago and the 97% average.
The crop was 87% emerged versus 88% a year ago and the 84% average. The emerged plants were rated 60% good to excellent, unchanged from a week ago, but down slightly from last year’s 63%.
Kansas, the largest wheat producer, was 99% planted and 92% emerged versus the averages of 99% and 91%. Wheat there was rated 62% good to excellent, down 1 point from a week ago.
There have been concerns about cold on the Midwest wheat. Illinois wheat ratings slipped to 57% good to excellent, 34% fair, 5% poor and 4% very poor from the prior week’s 60%, 34%, 3%, and 3%. There also was some condition slippage in Michigan, which went to 66% good/excellent, 28% fair, 4% poor and 2% very poor from the prior week’s 68%, 27% and 5%.
Cotton: 69% harvested vs 74% average
The cotton harvest at 69% was ahead of 2013’s 66% but trailed the 74% average.
Sorghum was 83% harvested versus 90% a year ago and the 87% average.
