The 2026 US corn harvest has begun, and it starts with the crop in its worst shape of the season. USDA's 23rd Crop Progress report, published on Tuesday 8 September, reported the first harvest progress of the year, 5% across seven states as of 6 September against a five-year average of 3%.

Condition slipped again. Some 56% of the corn in the 18 main states was rated good to excellent, 27% fair and 17% poor or very poor. A week earlier 57% was good to excellent; a year ago it was 68%.

The crop is running early. As of 6 September, 96% had reached the dough stage against a normal 94%, 76% had dented against 72%, and 25% across 16 states was mature against a five-year average of 23%. None of the corn in Colorado or Michigan had matured, leaving both states at least five points behind their averages.

Soybeans were 26% dropping leaves, ahead of the 20% average, and rated 58% good to excellent, 29% fair and 13% poor or very poor, unchanged from a week earlier and down from 64% good to excellent a year ago.

The report gave the first look at planting of the 2027 winter wheat crop: 2% sown in six states, behind the 5% average. The spring wheat harvest stood at 86% in the six reporting states, ahead of the 83% average, and oats were 98% harvested across nine states against a normal 93%.

The condition figures set the stage for USDA's Crop Production and WASDE reports three days later, in which the department cut its national corn yield forecast. Reporting by Mariah Squire.

Source: Successful Farming