With 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork, harvest progressed quickly across the state during the week ending October 9, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, drilling cover crops, tillage, and applying fall fertilizer and manure.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 19 percent very short, 39 percent short, 41 percent adequate, and one percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 22 percent very short, 38 percent short, 39 percent adequate, and one percent surplus.

Corn in the mature stage or beyond was 92 percent, two days behind last year, but five days ahead of the five-year average. Harvest of the State’s corn crop reached 23 percent complete, three days behind last year, but three days ahead of the average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 20 percent. Corn condition rose to 63 percent good to excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond were at 93 percent, five days behind last year, but two days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean harvest reached 29 percent this week, bringing the overall total to 55 percent complete, nine days ahead of the average. Soybean condition rose slightly to 62 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition was rated 27 percent good to excellent, with livestock faring well.