US soybean harvest nearly complete, corn harvest more than half done
US soybean harvest nearly complete, corn harvest over halfway
Washington, Nov 16 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday that the soybean harvest progressed rapidly and was nearly 90% complete in the most recent week. The corn harvest was more than halfway done, thanks to favorable weather.
The USDA said the soybean harvest was 89% complete, up from 75% the previous week. During the 2004-2008 crop years, the soybean harvest rate was 96%. The corn harvest was 54% complete, up from 37% last week, compared with the five-year average of 89%.
This year's rainy and cool weather severely damaged the corn and soybean crops. Recent favorable weather conditions allowed farmers to get into the fields, greatly speeding up the harvest, although rain is expected to return to the corn belt late this week.
Traders had previously expected the government to report the soybean harvest at 90% complete and the corn harvest at about 50%.
The Agriculture Department said Iowa's corn harvest was 59% complete and Illinois' was 52%. Both were far below their respective averages of 89% and 95%. The Agriculture Department also said Iowa's soybean harvest was 96% complete and Illinois' was 90%, 3% and 9% below their five-year averages, respectively.
The USDA expected the winter wheat planting rate at 90%, below the five-year average of 95%. The emergence rate was expected at 77%, up 6% from last week but 10% below the five-year average.
Like other U.S. crops, the cotton harvest was also behind the pace of previous years. The cotton harvest rate was 60% in the most recent week, up from 44% last week but below the five-year average of 68%.
The USDA said the soybean harvest was 89% complete, up from 75% the previous week. During the 2004-2008 crop years, the soybean harvest rate was 96%. The corn harvest was 54% complete, up from 37% last week, compared with the five-year average of 89%.
This year's rainy and cool weather severely damaged the corn and soybean crops. Recent favorable weather conditions allowed farmers to get into the fields, greatly speeding up the harvest, although rain is expected to return to the corn belt late this week.
Traders had previously expected the government to report the soybean harvest at 90% complete and the corn harvest at about 50%.
The Agriculture Department said Iowa's corn harvest was 59% complete and Illinois' was 52%. Both were far below their respective averages of 89% and 95%. The Agriculture Department also said Iowa's soybean harvest was 96% complete and Illinois' was 90%, 3% and 9% below their five-year averages, respectively.
The USDA expected the winter wheat planting rate at 90%, below the five-year average of 95%. The emergence rate was expected at 77%, up 6% from last week but 10% below the five-year average.
Like other U.S. crops, the cotton harvest was also behind the pace of previous years. The cotton harvest rate was 60% in the most recent week, up from 44% last week but below the five-year average of 68%.