The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the corn harvest was 68 percent complete and had increased its pace judging by its historic average.
Two weeks ago, the corn harvest was 16 percentage points ahead of its historic average -- 37 percent done compared with a five-year average of 21 percent. This week, the corn harvest is 29 percentage points ahead of its historic average of 39 percent complete for this week of the year.
The soybean and cotton harvests remain ahead of their recent five-year averages. Eighty-three percent of the soybeancrop has been harvested, compared to an average of 62 percent. Cotton is 41 percent harvest. At this time of year from 2005-2009, the average has been 30 percent done by this time of the year.
The peanut and sorghum harvest are running ahead of their historic averages at 52 percent and 62 percent complete, respectively. The rice harvest is near completion and one percentage point behind the historic average -- 87 percent done. The sunflower harvest is 29 percent done, 6 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.
