Corn 

The USDA estimates 38% of Iowa corn has been harvested, up from 23% last week. After starting the year on pace with the 5-year average, two consecutive weeks of suitable weather allowed Iowa to surpass its 5-year average of 29% complete by Week 41. Iowa is now only slightly behind the paces set in 2020 and 2021, when 42% and 43% of corn acres were harvested by this time respectively. In terms of total acres, Iowa has around 4.7 corn million acres harvested, above the year average of 3.7 million and only slightly behind the 5.4 million completed by this time in 2020 and 2021.  

So far this season in Iowa, Week 41 has been the largest week in terms of total acres harvested, with close to 1.9 million corn acres. Over the past 10 years, the high for corn acres harvested in one week in Iowa is 3.3 million acres in Week 44 of 2014. In the last 10 years, only one other week, Week 42 of 2015, had also had over 3 million corn acres harvested in Iowa.  

The U.S. corn harvest has also surpassed its average pace in the past two weeks thanks to suitable weather.  The U.S. now has 45% of the corn crop harvested, ahead of the 5-year average of 40%. This equates to 36.4 million acres. In the last 5 years, only 2021 had more U.S. corn acres harvested by Week 41 with 44.2 million acres.  

Week 41 has also been the largest week in terms of total acres harvested in the U.S., with 11.3 million acres. Over the past 10 years, the high for corn acres harvested in one week in the U.S. is 15.8 million acres which occurred in Week 44 of 2014. Week 42 of 2020 was the only other week in the last 10 years with over 15 million acres of corn harvested in one week. Every year over the last 10 years has had a week with over 11 million acres harvested.   

 

 

Figure 1. Iowa Corn Harvest Progress 

 

Figure 2. Iowa Corn Harvest Progress – Acres Harvested 

 

Figure 3. U.S. Corn Harvest Progress 

 

Figure 4. U.S. Corn Harvest Progress 

Soybeans 

Corn has come out quickly this year but not as fast as it did in 2021. One reason both Iowa and U.S. corn progress is behind the pace of 2021, is because so much time was given to soybeans. The advantageous October weather has allowed farmers across the country to make record progress on soybeans this year.  

The USDA estimates 74% of Iowa soybeans have been harvested. This sits well above the 5-year average of 49%. In terms of percent complete, the Iowa soybean harvest is even ahead of the pace of 2021, when 70% of Iowa soybeans were harvested by this time. In terms of acres of soybeans harvested, Iowa has over 7.4 million acers harvested. The only time when Iowa farmers have harvested this many acres this quickly was in 2012 when harvest was accelerated due to widespread drought and very early maturity of the crop. 

So far this year in Iowa, Week 40 has been the largest week in terms of total soybean acres harvested, with close to 2.9 million acres. Week 41 had 1.9 million soybean acres. Over the past 10 years, the high for soybean acres harvested in one week in Iowa is 3.4 million acres in Week 43 of 2018. In Iowa, over 3 million acres have been harvested in one week two other times, in Week 41 of both 2014 and 2015.   

U.S. soybean harvest progress is setting records this year. The U.S. has 63% of U.S. soybeans harvested, ahead of the 5-year average of 52%. This is highest percent complete by Week 41 the U.S. has had in the last 10 years. In terms of soybean acres harvested, U.S. farmers have harvested more acres of soybeans by week 41 this year than they have ever harvested. The prior record was 53.0 million acres harvested by week 41 in 2012 when widespread drought led to very early maturity of the soybean crop in numerous states and excellent harvest weather prevailed during early harvest. This year, 54.6 million acres of soybean were harvested by week 41. 

So far this year in the U.S., Week 40 has also been the largest week in terms of total acres harvested, with 19.1 million soybean acres. Over the past 10 years, the high for soybean acres harvested in one week in the U.S. is 19.2 million acres in Week 43 of 2018. The 19.1 million soybean acres harvested in Week 41 of this year was very close to most acres done in one week in recent history and likely was close to the maximum that the U.S. could do in one week.   

 

 

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Figure 5. Iowa Soybean Harvest Progress 

 

Figure 6. Iowa Soybean Harvest Progress - Acres Harvested 

 

Figure 7. U.S. Soybean Harvest Progress 

 

Figure 8. U.S. Soybean Harvest Progress - Acres Harvested 


Economic analysis provided by David Miller, Consulting Chief Economist, Decision Innovation Solutions on behalf of Iowa Farm Bureau.