This week’s USDA Crop Progress report showed that corn harvest remains behind both the 5 year average and the 2018 harvest numbers, while soybean harvest continues to regain lost ground, matching the 2018 harvest for this week.

Total corn harvest for all 18 U.S. states that harvested 94% of corn in the 2018 harvest was at 76% this week, below the 5 year average of 92% and this time last year (89%). Some states like Kentucky were completely caught up (98% harvested, above the 95% recorded this time last year and the 5 year average of 96%). Other states were more behind than average, like Wisconsin at 44% harvested (compared to the 5 year average of 77%), South Dakota at 53% (5 year average 91%) and North Dakota at 23% (5 year average 85%).

Soybean harvest continued to close the gap on their harvest percentages. States that harvested 96% of last year’s soybean harvest reported 91% of their soybeans were harvested, on track with the 91% reported this time last year and the 91% 5 year average. Though most states remained a few percentage points behind the 5 year average, some states exceeded it, like Kentucky with 88% harvested (5 year average 83%).

Several crops are coming in ahead of schedule. Among the 15 states that harvested 99% of last year’s cotton crops, 68% of this year’s cotton has been harvested, ahead of the 58% reported this time last year and the 5 year average of 66% harvested.

Sorghum harvests are even further ahead, coming in this week at 93% harvested (from the 6 states that harvested 98% of the sorghum in the 2018 harvest), ahead of the 79% harvested this time last year and the 87% harvested 5 year average.

Sunflower harvest showed poor results this week, with the 4 states that harvested 86% of last year’s sunflower crop reporting 47% of their sunflower crops harvested, below last year’s 68% harvested and well below the 5 year average of 83%.