US corn and soybean harvest pace above last year and the five-year average

The USDA's latest crop progress report indicates strong advancement in the harvest of major crops, with corn and soybeans making significant strides.

US corn crop and soybean harvest progress remained above the five-year averages in the week to Sunday October 13, the USDA’s weekly crop progress report showed on Tuesday October 15. Corn harvest was reported at 47% complete and soybean progress at 67% done.

Ahead of the report’s release, analysts estimated that corn harvest would be reported at 46%, while soybean harvest would land at 68%.

In the previous week, corn harvest was 30% complete, and soybean harvest had progressed to 47%.

Therefore, corn harvest progress more than doubled this week.

Corn rated in good-to-excellent condition accounted for 64% of the total crop.

Before the report’s release, analysts estimated that corn crop conditions would improve by 1 percentage point to 65% in good-to-excellent condition.

Sunflower harvest has reached 14% complete, ahead of last week’s 4% and last year’s 10%, but the figure is below the five-year average of 16%.

For winter wheat, planting was 64% complete, up from 51% last week, down by 1 percentage point from last year and by 2 points from the five-year average of 66%.

Topsoil moisture conditions during the reporting week were described as 23% very short, 39% short, 37% adequate and 1% surplus, compared with the previous week’s 18% very short, 34% short, 45% adequate and 3% surplus.

Subsoil moisture conditions were listed as 20% very short, 37% short, 42% adequate and 1% surplus, compared with the previous week’s 17% very short, 35% short, 46% adequate and 2% surplus.

Corn
94% mature (87% last week, 93% last year, 89% five-year average)
47% harvested (30% last week, 42% last year, 39% five-year average)
64% good-to-excellent condition (64% last week, 53% last year)

Soybeans

95% dropping leaves (90% last week, 96% last year, 92% five-year average)
67% harvested (47% last week, 57% last year, 51% five-year average)

Sunflower
14% harvested (4% last week, 10% last year, 16% five-year average)

Winter wheat
64% planted (51% last week, 65% last year, 66% five-year average)
35% emerged (25% last week, 36% last year, 38% five-year average)

What to read next
The UK’s domestic bioethanol industry could be at risk as a result of the recent trade deal announced between the UK and the US, industry members have warned.
Fastmarkets is due to launch a new European based sustainable aviation fuel price, but what is the significance of this renewable energy?
Brazil could reach a share of as much as 7 million tonnes per year in China's distillers dried grains (DDG) and distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS) markets following an agreement between the two countries that allows Brazilian exports, according to the National Union of Corn Ethanol (Unem).
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its global soybean prices, via an open consultation process between April 15 and May 10, 2025. This consultation was done as part of our annual methodology review process.
Low physical demand and surplus SAF compliance tickets weigh down UCOME prices
Read Fastmarkets' wheat market update ahead of USDA report release