The US Department of Agriculture published the 24th Crop Progress report of the 2026 season on Monday, and it shows both of the country's big row crops moving to harvest faster than usual after a hot, dry late summer.

As of 13 September, 8% of the corn in the 18 main growing states had been harvested, against a five-year average of 6%, with harvest reported in 13 states, six more than a week earlier. Some 86% of the crop had dented, two points ahead of normal, and 42% was mature against an average of 38%.

Corn condition steadied after slipping to a season low the previous week: 57% was rated good to excellent, 26% fair and 17% poor or very poor. A week earlier 56% was good to excellent; a year ago the figure was 67%.

Soybeans made their first appearance in the harvest table. Six percent of the crop across 13 states had been cut, double the five-year average of 3%, and 44% of fields were dropping leaves against a normal 37%. Soybean condition held at 58% good to excellent, 29% fair and 13% poor or very poor, compared with 63% good to excellent a year ago.

Winter wheat planting for the 2027 harvest is behind: growers in 11 of the 18 main states had sown 8% of the crop against a five-year average of 12%. The spring wheat harvest was all but complete at 93% in the six reporting states, a point ahead of normal.

The report follows USDA's 11 September cut to the national corn yield forecast, to 178.5 bushels an acre, and its small increase for soybeans to 52.8 bushels; the pace of harvest over the next few weeks will decide how much of that reduced corn crop comes to market early. Reporting by Mariah Squire.

Source: Successful Farming