USDA’s latest crop progress report, out Tuesday afternoon (delayed due to the federal Columbus Day holiday) and covering the week through Oct. 11, showed corn quality back on an upward swing last week, although rainy weather kept harvest pace slower than normal.
Soybean quality held steady, meantime, with harvest nearing the halfway mark for that crop. Traders also received a fresh look at 2026-27 winter wheat plantings.
Corn quality improved 2 points this past week, with 56% of the crop now rated in good-to-excellent condition. About 27% of the crop is rated fair (down 1 point from last week), with the remaining 17% rated poor or very poor (also down 1 point from last week). Tennessee (81%), Kentucky (79%) and Pennsylvania (78%) lead the way among the top 18 production states so far.
Physiologically, 91% of the crop is now fully mature, up from 83% the prior week and identical to the prior five-year average. And harvest progress moved from 23% completion last week up to 33% through Sunday. That’s 6 points behind the prior five-year average of 39% at this time.
Soybean quality steady
Soybean quality ratings held steady in the week through Oct. 11, with 57% of the crop still in good-to-excellent condition. About 29% of the crop is rated fair (unchanged from last week), with the remaining 14% rated poor or very poor (also unchanged from last week). Ohio (73%), Tennessee (71%), and Iowa and Mississippi (69%) have the best quality ratings among the top 18 production states.
Physiologically, nearly all (92%) of the crop is now dropping leaves. That’s up from 85% in the prior week and slightly behind the prior five-year average of 94%. Harvest progress jumped from 25% completion a week ago up to 46% through Sunday. That’s still behind the prior five-year average of 50%, however.
Winter wheat plantings for the 2026-27 season are now more than halfway complete after reaching 51% through Oct. 11. That’s up from 36% a week ago and still moderately behind the prior five-year average of 58%. Emergence moved from 16% a week ago up to 27%.
Click here for additional data points from today’s USDA crop progress report, including a state-by-state look at topsoil and subsoil moisture, days suitable for fieldwork, and more.