The U.S. corn harvest is officially underway, and farmers are beginning with the crop in its poorest condition of the growing season. USDA says five percent of the nation's corn had been harvested as of September sixth. That's ahead of the five-year average of three percent. About one-quarter of the crop has reached maturity. But the national condition rating continues moving lower. Only 56 percent of corn is now rated good to excellent, down another percentage point from last week and the lowest rating of 2026.

Soybeans are developing faster than normal as well. Twenty-six percent are dropping leaves, compared with the five-year average of 20 percent. The declining corn ratings are increasing interest in Friday's USDA production estimates. Traders will be looking for evidence that late-season heat, flooding and other weather problems reduced yield potential from USDA's earlier projections as harvest begins expanding across the Corn Belt.

By: NATHAN STUEDLEThe U.S. corn harvest is officially underway, and farmers are beginning with the crop in its poorest condition of the growing season. USDA says five percent of the nation's corn had been harvested as of September sixth. That's ahead of the five-year average of three percent. About one-quarter of the crop has reached maturity. But the national condition rating continues moving lower. Only 56 percent of corn is now rated good to excellent, down another percentage point from last week and the lowest rating of 2026.Soybeans are developing faster than normal as well. Twenty-six percent are dropping leaves, compared with the five-year average of 20 percent. The declining corn ratings are increasing interest in Friday's USDA production estimates. Traders will be looking for evidence that late-season heat, flooding and other weather problems reduced yield potential from USDA's earlier projections as harvest begins expanding across the Corn Belt.

Corn harvest begins as crop conditions decline