WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The 2013 U.S. corn harvest pulled well ahead of its five-year average as of Nov. 10, while the soybean harvest was about on par with its five-year average for the date, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its Nov. 12 weekly Crop Progress report. 

The USDA pegged the corn harvest at 84% complete in the 18 major states as of Nov. 10, up from 73% a week earlier and ahead of the five-year average for the date of 79%.

In the top three corn-producing states of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana an even higher percentage of the crop had been combined. The USDA said 93% of the Illinois crop, 85% of the Indiana crop and 88% of the Iowa crop was harvested as of Nov. 10.

The USDA said the soybean harvest was 91% harvested in the 18 major states, a percentage point behind the 92% five-year average. The harvest in the top three soybean-producing states of Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota was essentially done as of Nov. 10. The USDA pegged the Illinois harvest at 97% complete, while both the Iowa and Minnesota harvests were reported as 98% complete.

Also ahead of its five-year average, winter wheat in the 18 major states was 95% planted, compared with a 93% average for 2008-12, the USDA said. A total of 84% of the crop was emerged as of Nov. 10, also above the 80% five-year average, the USDA said.

A total of 65% of the winter wheat crop was rated good to excellent as of Nov. 10, the USDA said. That represented an improvement of two percentage points over the previous week’s 63% and a 29-point increase over 36% rated good to excellent at the same time last year.