Positive Crop Progress Across the US as Harvest Season Continue

Crop Watch producers in the United States have reported brisk progress in their harvests, with the pace expected to continue until mid-week when more substantial rain is forecasted to move through the Corn Belt. While Ohio experienced limited fieldwork due to rain, Indiana and South Dakota managed to complete corn harvests last week. This progress mirrors the trends of the past two years, leaving only four out of 22 corn and bean fields yet to be harvested.

To gauge yield potential, Crop Watch producers have used a 1-to-5 scale, with a score of 3 indicating an average farm yield, 4 denoting an above-average yield, and 5 signifying one of the best crop yields ever. The overall average corn yield across the 11 fields rose slightly from 3.77 to 3.8, with North Dakota contributing to this increase due to nearby harvest results. While this is the highest corn score since late August, it remains below earlier expectations.

Indiana's corn scored at 4.5, equivalent to the previous year, and slightly better than in 2022. South Dakota's corn scored 4, matching pre-harvest expectations and showing notable improvement compared to the previous two years. The final projected soybean yield for Ohio's bean fields in 2023 is 3.5, which is lower than the yields in the past two years.

Crop Watch producers were asked whether corn or soybean yields were relatively better in their areas, with seven producers favoring corn. Corn yields surpassed those of beans in Iowa and Kansas. The situation in North Dakota is yet to be determined, with both corn and soybeans showing promise. In Ohio, both crops have performed well. However, in southeastern Illinois and South Dakota, soybeans have fared slightly better than corn.

Producers attribute the relative success of corn to mild temperatures in July and early August, combined with sufficient rainfall during that period. In contrast, dryness throughout most of August was detrimental to bean crops.

The Crop Watch fields for 2023 are located in various states and counties, including Kingsbury, South Dakota; Freeborn, Minnesota; Burt, Nebraska; Rice, Kansas; Audubon, Iowa; Cedar, Iowa; Warren, Illinois; Crawford, Illinois; Tippecanoe, Indiana; and Fairfield, Ohio. North Dakota's corn is in Griggs County, and the soybeans are in Stutsman County.