This article was originally published at 3:04 p.m. CDT on Monday, Oct. 26. It was last updated with additional information at 3:34 p.m. CDT on Monday, Oct. 26.
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OMAHA (DTN) -- The nation's corn harvest remains behind its five-year average, while soybean harvest is running slightly ahead, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.
Fieldwork disruptions should remain minor this week, with scattered showers and mostly above-normal temperatures across much of the country, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.
CORN
-- Harvest progress: NASS estimated that 60% of corn had been harvested nationally as of Oct. 25, 6 percentage points behind the five-year average of 66%. DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery noted that harvest remains behind the average pace for late October, particularly in top-producing Iowa, where just 47% of the crop has been harvested compared to the state's five-year average of 67%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 56% of the crop remaining in fields was in good-to-excellent condition, steady with the previous week. Eighteen percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, 1 percentage point above the previous week's 17%.
SOYBEANS
-- Harvest progress: NASS estimated that 79% of soybeans had been harvested as of Sunday, 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 77%. Montgomery said, "The 2026 U.S. soybean harvest has staged an impressive comeback after a very late start in September and is now ahead of the usual pace for late October. Even Iowa and Nebraska, where delays were most severe, have made up considerable ground as weather conditions improved in October."
WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting was estimated at 76% complete nationally, 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 77%. Montgomery said recent rainfall delayed planting, but producers have made progress, with top-producing Kansas now 80% planted.
-- Crop development: Winter wheat emerged was estimated at 53%, 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 54%.
THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER
Despite scattered showers and cooler temperatures in the Northern Plains, most of the country should experience favorable temperatures for fieldwork and winter crop establishment, according to DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick.
"It looks like there will be some disruptions to fieldwork this week, but they are more likely to be minor," Baranick said. "Still, there is a system that continues from the weekend across the Plains into the Upper Midwest for Monday and Tuesday. Scattered showers will continue along the storm's path. We could even see a little snow developing in South Dakota on the backside of the system. Some moderate rainfall will be possible in other spots along the path as well. Behind that, a front will go across the northern tier of the country for Wednesday and Thursday and will produce scattered showers as well. And then at the end of the week, we may see some tropical moisture moving north into Texas on Friday, spreading out north and east through the weekend. The moisture should be more diffuse, so not a lot of heavy rain is forecast outside of Texas.
"So, all in all, there should be some disruption to fieldwork, but most areas of the country will continue to keep rolling. Some areas in the Plains that grow winter wheat will enjoy seeing some more rain. And we could get some showers to move into the drier southeastern quadrant of the country as well.
"Temperatures in parts of the Northern Plains may stay on the chilly side for much of the week, but the vast majority of the country will see temperatures above normal, favorable for both outdoor work and winter crop establishment."
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To view weekly crop progress reports issued by National Ag Statistics Service offices in individual states, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/…. Look for the U.S. map in the "Find Data and Reports by" section and choose the state you wish to view in the drop-down menu. Then look for that state's "Crop Progress & Condition" report.
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Editor's Note: How are your crops looking? Are they better, worse or right on track with USDA NASS' observations this week? Send us your comments, and we'll include them in next week's Crop Progress report story. You can email comments to talk@dtn.com. Please include the location of where you farm.
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| National Crop Progress Summary |
| |
This |
Last |
Last |
5-Year |
| |
Week |
Week |
Year |
Avg. |
| Corn harvested |
60 |
44 |
NA |
66 |
| Soybeans harvested |
79 |
64 |
NA |
77 |
| Winter wheat planted |
76 |
63 |
NA |
77 |
| Winter wheat emerged |
53 |
39 |
NA |
54 |
| Cotton bolls opening |
89 |
85 |
NA |
92 |
| Cotton harvested |
52 |
41 |
NA |
45 |
| Sorghum mature |
93 |
87 |
NA |
97 |
| Sorghum harvested |
56 |
46 |
NA |
69 |
| Sugarbeets harvested |
75 |
55 |
NA |
74 |
| Sunflowers harvested |
46 |
24 |
NA |
40 |
| Peanuts harvested |
51 |
39 |
NA |
59 |
**
| National Crop Condition Summary |
|
|
|
|
| (VP=Very Poor; P=Poor; F=Fair; G=Good; E=Excellent) |
|
| |
VP |
P |
F |
G |
E |
| Corn |
|
|
|
|
|
| This Week |
6 |
12 |
26 |
43 |
13 |
| Prev Week |
5 |
12 |
27 |
43 |
13 |
| Prev Year |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| DTN 5-Yr Avg |
5 |
10 |
26 |
46 |
13 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Peanuts |
|
|
|
|
|
| This Week |
2 |
14 |
34 |
44 |
6 |
| Prev Week |
2 |
12 |
34 |
47 |
5 |
| Prev Year |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| DTN 5-Yr Avg |
2 |
8 |
32 |
51 |
7 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cotton |
|
|
|
|
|
| This Week |
13 |
24 |
30 |
27 |
6 |
| Prev Week |
13 |
24 |
28 |
28 |
7 |
| Prev Year |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| DTN 5-Yr Avg |
12 |
17 |
30 |
34 |
6 |
EllaMae Reiff can be reached at ellamae.reiff@dtn.com
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