USDA’s latest crop progress report, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through August 9, showed a slight degradation in soybean quality ratings, while corn ratings remained unchanged from the prior week. Also of note in the latest report, the 2025-26 winter wheat harvest inched closer to the finish line, mirroring the prior five-year average.
Corn quality ratings maintained their levels from a week ago, with 61% of the crop still in good-to-excellent condition through Sunday and matching analysts’ expectations. Another 25% of the crop is rated fair, with the remaining 14% rated poor or very poor. Pennsylvania (89%), North Dakota (81%) and Tennessee (80%) lead the way in good-to-excellent ratings among the top 18 production states.
Physiologically, nearly all (94%) of the crop is now silking, up from 90% a week ago and slightly ahead of the prior five-year average of 93%. Sixty-one percent of the crop has reached dough stage, versus the prior five-year average of 55%. And 16% of the crop is now dented, up from 6% last week and faster than the prior five-year average of 12%.
Soybean conditions shifted slightly lower, with 62% of the crop now in good-to-excellent condition. Analysts were expecting ratings at the top end to hold steady. Another 28% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 10% rated poor or very poor (up one point from last week).
Physiologically, 93% of the crop is now blooming, up from 88% a week ago and slightly ahead of the prior five-year average of 91%. And nearly three-fourths (74%) is now setting pods, up from 62% a week ago and moderately faster than the prior five-year average of 69%.
This season’s winter wheat harvest is nearly complete, with 91% progress through August 9. That’s slightly ahead of 2025’s pace of 89% and identical to the prior five-year average. It was also identical to the average analyst estimate, with individual trade guesses ranging between 90% and 93%.
Spring wheat quality ratings were worse than expected after tilting four points lower, with 51% of the crop now in good-to-excellent condition. Another 33% is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 16% rated poor or very poor (up four points from last week).
Spring wheat harvest progress made solid inroads, with 24% completion through Sunday. That’s noticeably up from 5% in the prior week. It’s also well ahead of 2025’s pace of 14% and the prior five-year average of 19%.
Click here for additional data points from the latest crop progress report, including a state-by-state look at topsoil and subsoil moisture, days suitable for fieldwork and more.