Corn harvest progress continues to slow down for the top corn growing states closest to wrapping up harvest. For the week ending Oct. 30, the USDA Crop Progress report shows that corn harvest, while ahead of the five-year average nationwide, has slowed dramatically for the states closest to completing harvest.
North Carolina, Texas, and Tennessee continue to lead the nation in corn harvest progress, each with over 90% of their respective crop harvested. Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin are the states with the least amount of corn harvested for the 2023 season.
North Carolina corn harvest progress
The report shows 97% of North Carolina’s corn has been harvested. This is up just 1% from the previous week. This means that, once again, North Carolina had the least growth in corn harvest progress from the previous week across the all top corn growing states. Corn harvest at this point is 1% ahead of both the five-year average and last year at this time.
XtremeAg farmer Kevin Matthews is still wrapping up corn harvest on his river bottom ground. He hopes to have the rest of his corn crop in the bins within the next 10 days, he writes in a blog published Monday.
Texas corn harvest progress
USDA reports that corn harvest in Texas is up just 4% from the previous week at 93%. Corn harvest is also 3% behind last year at this time. However, this is ahead of the five-year average by 2%.
Tennessee corn harvest progress
According to the USDA Crop Progress report, Tennessee reports one of the smallest gains in corn harvest progress. At 92%, corn harvest in the state is up just 4% from the previous week. Tennessee corn harvest continues to trail Texas by 1%. This is also behind last year at this time by 5%, and behind the five-year average by 2%.
XtremeAg farmer Johnny Verell reported strong yields in Jackson, Tennessee. Now that corn harvest is complete on his farm, he’s spraying stubble digesters on the corn stalks to help manage residue.
Ohio corn harvest progress
After six weeks of reported harvest, Ohio farmers have made the least corn harvest progress in the nation with just 29% of the crop out of the field, USDA says. This is up 9% from the previous week. However, Ohio’s corn harvest progress is 24% behind last year at this time. This is also 20% behind the five-year average.
“Poor conditions for dry-down contributed to delayed corn harvest progress,” says Ben Torrance, State Statistician, USDA NASS, Ohio Field Office.
Farmer Jane Marshall confirms there’s still a lot of corn in the fields of Preble County. “We had significant rain over the weekend, between an inch or two depending on location, so no one is moving,” she adds.
Adam Vonderhaar and his family also farm in Preble County on the western side of the state. He says some people have started corn, but their operation has focused on finishing soybean harvest so far this fall. The Vonderhaars may try to start corn harvest later this week, but the high moisture content of the crop will make for slow going. There are a lot of dryers running in the area, he says.
Michigan corn harvest progress
Corn harvested in Michigan is up 6% from the previous week, with 30% of the crop harvested. This is among one of the smaller strides in corn harvest across the top corn growing states. Additionally, this is 11% behind both last year at this time and the five-year average.
Wisconsin corn harvest progress
In Wisconsin, USDA reports 35% of corn harvest is complete. Corn harvest progress in Wisconsin made one of the biggest jumps, up 11% from the previous week. Current progress is equal to last year at this time, but behind the five-year average by 6%.
Corn harvest progress in other states
For the week ending Oct. 30, USDA reported that harvest is nearing three-quarters complete nationwide. Nationally, 71% of the corn crop has been harvested, ahead of the five-year average by 5%, and behind last year at this time by 3%.
Harvest progress surged the most in Colorado, up 23% from the previous week. With just 29% harvested, Ohio has the smallest percentage of its crop out of the field, falling behind its own five-year average by 20%.