Agricultural News
Harvest Continues with Reports of Slow Progress, Quality Corn
Mon, 21 Oct 2013 16:17:35 CDT
Corn harvest progress continues to lag far behind the five-year average according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released today. With 39 percent of the crop harvest in the top 18 corn producing states as of October 20, progress now trails the five-year average by 14 points. The previous report, released on September 30, indicated only an 11 point gap at that time.
"Planting came late this year as farmers dealt with wet, cool conditions and, accordingly, harvest will be later than normal also," said National Corn Growers Association President Martin Barbre. "While some anecdotal evidence points toward a more robust crop than some had predicted in rural America, it is important to note that these instances may not be representative. Right now, we need favorable conditions that will allow farmers to get the corn out of the field and into the bins. Then, we will be able to make an accurate assessment of how the overall U.S. crop fared in 2013."
Harvest progress lags behind the five-year average in all of the top 18 corn producing states with the exception of North Carolina and Pennsylvania where it surpasses the average by one point in both instances. States in the northern Midwest trailed furthest behind state five-year progress averages with Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota falling 30, 22 and 20 points behind respectively.
Despite slow harvest progress, the corn crop condition improved slightly since the September 30 report. Forecasts indicate 17 percent of the crop to be in excellent condition and 43 to be in good nationally, representing a three and two point increase respectively.
Click here for the USDA's weekly report on crop progress.
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