Despite a cool, wet planting season that included delays, the pace of the 2013 soybean and corn harvests was on track with current five-year averages, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Crop Progress data reported for the week that ended Oct. 27.
The U.S.D.A. pegged the soybean crop at 77% harvested in the 18 major states, equal to the five-year 2008-12 average, and the corn crop was 59% harvested as of Oct. 27, down just three percentage points from the 62% five-year average for the same period. Most producers growing both crops harvested soybeans first to preserve their quality.
The condition of the corn crop improved in the latest week to 62% good to excellent from 60% in the previous week.
Winter wheat plantings in the latest week actually outpaced the five-year average. The U.S.D.A. said 86% of the crop was planted, up from the 85% for the five-year average ending in 2012. A total of 65% of the crop was emerged as of Oct. 27, up from a 64% five-year average. Crop conditions for winter wheat deteriorated somewhat in the latest week to 61% good to excellent from 65% good to excellent the previous week, the U.S.D.A. said.
