Even though crops are largely mature, harvest has fallen behind average due to farmers getting just what they didn’t need right now -- moisture. In the week ended October 12, Iowa and South Dakota had less than a day of suitable fieldwork, Kansas had one full day and Nebraska 1.3 days.
In the 18 reporting states, 39 percent of corn has been harvested, ahead of the 35 percent average. Soybeans, however, are 15 points behind the usual 53 percent for this week. The states in our area are slightly behind on corn and significantly behind on soybeans:
|
CORN
|
SOYBEANS
|
|
Oct. 14, 2018
|
5-year average
|
Oct. 4, 2018
|
5-year average
|
| Iowa |
17
|
24
|
19
|
51
|
| Kansas |
63
|
64
|
16
|
33
|
| Nebraska |
25
|
25
|
39
|
54
|
| South Dakota |
17
|
21
|
29
|
65
|
| 18 States |
39
|
35
|
38
|
53
|
USDA’s condition ratings are unchanged for corn, at 12 percent in the bottom two categories and 68 percent in the top two. Soybean ratings slipped one point on the top and gained one point on the bottom.
Sorghum is six points behind average, at 42 percent harvested. Nebraska stands at 32 percent, five ahead of average. But Kansas and South Dakota – at 19 and 21 percent respectively – are both behind nine points.
Winter wheat, at 65 percent complete in the 18 reporting states, also has slipped two points behind average. Kansas and Nebraska are each three points behind, at 62 percent and 89 percent respectively; South Dakota is eight points behind at 82 percent complete.
Better weather in the week ahead will help, at least on fields that aren’t too wet for machinery.
