Corn ratings down another point in the week through September 7.
USDA's latest crop progress report, out Monday afternoon and covering the week through September 7, held plenty of fresh data points for traders to digest. Of particular note, corn and soybean quality ratings each eased a point lower. The 2025 spring wheat harvest moves closer to completion, meantime, with winter wheat plantings just getting started.
Corn quality ratings faded another point lower last week, with 68% of the crop in good-to-excellent condition through Sunday. Analysts were expecting to see a three-point erosion, in contrast. Another 23% of the crop is rated fair (up one point from last week), with the remaining 9% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from last week).
Physiologically, 95% of the crop has reached dough stage, mirroring the prior five-year average. Nearly three-fourths (74%) is now dented, down slightly from the prior five-year average. A quarter of the crop is now fully mature, matching the prior five-year average. And harvest progress is on the books for the first time in 2025, with 4% completion across the top 18 production states.
Soybean quality shifted another point lower last week, with 64% of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition through September 7. Analysts were expecting to see a two-point drop. Another 26% of the crop is rated fair (up one point from last week), with the remaining 10% rated poor or very poor (unchanged from last week).
Physiologically, nearly all (97%) of the crop is now setting pods, which is identical to the prior five-year average. And 21% of the crop is now dropping leaves, up from 11% a week ago and slightly behind the prior five-year average of 22%.
Spring wheat harvest progress moved from 72% a week ago up to 85% through Sunday. That's slightly ahead of 2024's pace of 83% and the prior five-year average of 84%.
Winter wheat planting progress is officially underway, with 5% completion through Sunday. However, only 10 of the top 18 production states have made measurable progress so far, according to USDA's data. Washington is the runaway leader in this category, having already planted 40% of its 2025-26 crop.
Click here for more data from today's report, including a state-by-state look at topsoil and subsoil moisture, days suitable for fieldwork and more.