Corn Advances to the Dent Stage
Published: Friday, September 18, 2026
Corn development continued to advance in Indiana and Michigan during the week ending Sunday, with both states moving closer to maturity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
In Indiana, 82% of corn was dented as of Sept. 13, up from 38% a week earlier and just below the 83% five-year average. About 31% of the crop was mature, compared with 38% on average. Corn harvest had reached 3%, below the five-year average of 5%.
Michigan's corn crop was 71% dented, a sharp increase from 59% the previous week but slightly behind the 73% five-year average. Only 18% was mature, compared with 13% on average, while 1% had been harvested.
Corn condition in Indiana was rated 3% very poor, 7% poor, 29% fair, 53% good and 8% excellent. In Michigan, 1% was very poor, 3% poor, 31% fair, 42% good and 23% excellent.
Nationally, USDA-NASS reported that 84% of corn in 18 major producing states was dented, compared with an 83% five-year average. Forty-two percent was mature, ahead of the 39% average, while 6% had been harvested, compared with 7% normally harvested by that date.
Corn condition nationally was rated 6% very poor, 11% poor, 24% fair, 44% good and 14% excellent.
Soybeans also continued to progress. Indiana soybeans were 43% dropping leaves, compared with a five-year average of 48%. Harvest had reached 3%, matching the five-year average. Michigan soybeans were 37% dropping leaves, slightly below the 40% average, with 1% harvested.
Indiana soybean condition was rated 3% very poor, 8% poor, 29% fair, 53% good and 8% excellent. Michigan was rated 1% very poor, 7% poor, 33% fair, 41% good and 18% excellent.
Across the 18 states, 37% of soybeans were dropping leaves, compared with a 38% five-year average, and 6% had been harvested, compared with 5% normally.
The USDA released the crop progress report Monday, providing a snapshot of field conditions as harvest season approaches across the Midwest.
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