U.S. Corn Harvest Accelerates Ahead of Schedule as Soybeans Catch Up

The U.S. corn harvest is accelerating faster than normal, with 8% of the crop already harvested by September 13, two percentage points ahead of its five-year average.

Corn maturity reached 42%, compared to a five-year average of 38%, while 86% of the crop had reached the dent stage, two points above normal.

The soybean harvest is also moving rapidly, with 6% of the crop harvested across 13 states, double the five-year average of 3%. In addition, 44% of soybeans were dropping leaves, compared to the five-year average of 37%.

Corn and soybean good-to-excellent ratings remain below their year-ago levels, making actual combine results increasingly important for assessing production potential.