According to the Weather and Crop Bulletin report of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), continuing a recent trend, dry weather dominated the country, including large sections of the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast.
During the 2-week period ending October 23, nearly one-third (30%) of the U.S. corn and 36 % of the soybeans were harvested, as dryness favored Midwestern fieldwork.
Elsewhere, national harvest numbers were at or ahead of the 5-year average pace on that date for all major crops, including rice (94 percent harvested), sugarbeets (80%), peanuts (68%), sorghum (67%), cotton (45%), and sunflowers (35%).
However, some rain lingered early in the week across the south-central U.S., where a boost in topsoil moisture briefly slowed fieldwork but benefited rangeland, pastures, and winter grains.
For the full USDA report for Oct. 25, click here.