It’s Thanksgiving week and 10% of U.S. corn acres and 9% of the soybean crop was still in the field as of last Sunday (Nov. 18).
According to USDA’s latest Crop Progress report, only 6% of corn was harvested in the week leading up to Nov. 18, bringing total acres harvested to 90%. If it’s any consolation, a year ago at this time 89% of the crop had been cut and in the bin. Both of these lag the 5 year average of 93% harvested by this date. States that are lagging this year’s harvest are North Dakota with only 71% of corn taken out of the field so far, Michigan at 74%, Pennsylvania at 76% and Wisconsin at 80%.
So far, 91% of soybeans are in the bin, which compares to 88% a week earlier, 96% a year ago on this date and the 5 year average of 96%. North Carolina, which was struck by Hurricane Florence in September, has harvested only 58% of its soybeans, which is only slightly behind its typical acreage at this point. A year earlier, farmers there had cut 62% of their beans and the 5 year average is 59% for this date.