US corn harvest at 71% with soybeans having reached 85% completed

HOUSTON (ICIS)–There is now 71% of the US corn harvest completed with soybeans at 85% according to the latest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly crop progress report.

The current pace of corn harvest is slightly behind the 2022 level of 74% but is ahead of the five-year average of 66%.

Currently North Carolina remains the leading state with 97% of their acreage completed, followed by Texas at 93%.

Reflecting the challenging weather being seen recently in northern states with lower temperatures and snowfall there are several states lagging in completion, with Ohio at 29% and Michigan at 30% being two of the key states behind their typical pace.

Continuing to stay ahead of the corn acreage, soybean farmers have now reached 85% of the acreage completed, which is slightly below the 87% achieved in 2022 but remains ahead of the five-year average of 78%.

Louisiana is the leading state for soybean harvest with their crop completed, followed by Mississippi at 97%.

Progress for both crops and subsequent post-harvest applications will be impacted by a cold pattern that is forecasted to stretch across the US in the coming days.

There was a slight uptick in urea barge movement early on Monday for November shipments with the fertilizer market also facing the upcoming closure of the rivers for winter, although recent rainfall has helped lift low water levels slightly.