Dry weather speeds up US corn, soybean harvest - USDA

18 October 2010 22:42  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--Dry weather across the US midwest has allowed farmers to race through the harvest of corn and soybeans at an above-average pace, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Monday.

As of 17 October, farmers in the 18 top-producing corn states had harvested 68% of the crop, well ahead of the five-year average of 39% by the same date, the USDA said in its weekly Crop Progress report.

The soybean harvest in the top states was even further ahead, with 83% of acres completed, compared with the five-year average of 62% harvested by 17 October.

One year ago, only 16% of the corn and 29% of the soybeans had been harvested by 17 October.

The harvests of other important US crops were also near completion by 17 October, including 95% of cotton, 75% of sugar beets, 52% of peanuts and 94% of sorghum.

The earlier-than-normal harvests allow growers an extended period to complete fall tillage and fertilizer applications before the onset of winter.

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By: Frank Zaworski
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