Soil Moisture Levels Decline, Harvest Begins

Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels for US cropland decreased over the past week as this year’s harvest got underway. Topsoil moisture readings slipped from 56 percent of fields having adequate moisture (or better) last week, to 51 percent this week.  Fields having adequate or surplus subsoil moisture declined from 51 percent to 49 percent.

The corn harvest is underway and four percent complete as of September 12, 2021. The harvest is on par with the historical average and last season’s pace. Corn conditions declined again over the past week.  US Fields rated good to excellent slipped a point to 58 percent while crops seen in poor to very poor condition increased a point to 15 percent from the week prior. Twenty seven percent of the fields are rated as being in fair condition. Condition ratings compare unfavorably to last season when 68 percent of the crop was rated good to excellent and 15 percent…