As of last Sunday (Oct. 13), 22% of corn acres were in the bin, along with 26% of soybeans, according to USDA’s latest Crop Progress report. Condition of the crops moving to the harvest season remained essentially unchanged from the past several weeks.

Some 96% of corn is in the dented stage of development vs. the 5 year average for this date of 100%. Some 73% of the corn crop is said to be mature. This compares with 96% a year ago and the 5 year average of 92% for this date.

The percentage of corn acres harvested at this point (22%) compares with 38% last year at this time and the 5 year average of 36%. Condition of this year’s corn crop is rated as 55% “good” and “excellent.” This is down 1% from the previous week and down from a year ago when 68% of the crop was reported to be “good” and “excellent.”

In Iowa, the biggest corn producing state, only 7% of corn acres had been harvested as of last Sunday vs. 17% a year ago and the 5 year average of 20% for this date.

The Oct. 13 crop progress report for soybeans indicates that 85% are dropping leaves vs. 94% a year earlier and the 5 year average of 93%. The condition of this year’s soybean crop is rated as 54% “good” and “excellent” compared to 53% the week prior and 66% last year on this date.

The 26% of soybeans harvested so far compares with 37% a year earlier and the 5 year average of 49%. For the biggest soybean producing state, Illinois, 27% of the crop is in the bin, up 16% from the prior week, but down from 19% a year ago and way behind the 5 year average of 43%.