Corn was 7 percent harvested in the 18 major states, even with a year ago, but behind 15 percent as the 2009-13 average for the date, the USDA said. The trade had expected the harvest to be 12 percent to 15 percent completed.
Harvest had not begun as of Sept. 21 in seven of the 18 states, including top-producing Iowa. No. 2 Illinois was at 6 percent compared with 23 percent as the average. Of the states where harvest was under way, only Texas was ahead of average at 67 percent compared with 65 percent.
The corn crop was 42 percent mature, ahead of 37 percent last year but behind 54 percent as the five-year average. The crop was rated 74 percent good to excellent, unchanged from a week earlier, but well above 55 percent a year ago.
The soybean crop in the 18 major states was 3 percent harvested as of Sept. 21, even with the same date last year but behind 8 percent as the five-year average. The trade had expected soybean harvest to be 4 percent to 6 percent completed as of Sunday.
Forty-five per cent of the crop was dropping leaves compared with 53 percent as the average. The crop was rated 71 percent good to excellent, down slightly from 72 percent a week earlier, but well above 50 percent a year ago.
