CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI, U.S. — U.S. harvest is progressing nearly exactly on schedule, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported on Oct. 13. With 42% of the crop harvested as of Oct. 11, ranging from 88% of the North Carolina crop to 15% of Colorado’s and North Dakota’s, total progress came within one percentage point of the five-year average.
“While estimates of the crop in the northern regions of the Corn Belt could still shift as harvest gets further under way, we can now see a clearer picture of the 2015 corn grown over much of the country,” said NCGA President Chip Bowling, a grower from Maryland. “Despite difficulties with early season flooding, the overall crop is on track to have the second-highest national average yield on record. At NCGA, we continuously work to grow demand for this sustainable, abundant crop as our nation’s farmers work hard to get it in the bins.”
Over the same period, estimates of the crop condition remained stable with 68% of the crop in good or excellent condition. At this time last year, 74% of the crop fell within this range.
To read the full USDA report, click here.