As the last of the growing season gets here and well into harvest for many crops USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says crops are maturing and being harvested at a faster than normal pace. Rippey says nationally corn crop is 52% mature.
"That's well ahead of the five-year average of 32% and last year's number of just 12% at this time," Rippey said. "The corn harvest has advanced to 11% with the five-year average being 6% and last year's number at 3%"
Corn condition has declined slightly this week at 68% still in good-to-excellent shape, down one percent from a week earlier.
Soybean condition also declined by 1% this week with 63% of the crop in good-to-excellent condition.
"We've passed the one-third mark on dropping leaves," Rippey said. "By Sept. 12 it reached 38%, five-year average is 30%, last year was only 16%."