The wet and warm weather has helped 60 per cent of American winter wheat to emerge this fall.
That's 2 per cent ahead of last year and the five-year average.
The USDA says thanks to good growing conditions, next year's crop is now rated 59 per cent good to excellent, 12 points better than last year's rating at this time.
It's estimated that 79 per cent of U.S. winter wheat has now been planted.
While corn harvest south of the border is still 9 per cent behind last year's pace, the department points out the 61 per cent harvest is only 1 back of the five-year average.
Soybean harvest made up a lot of ground in the last week.
76 per cent has been combined. That's 8 per cent behind the 2015 clip, but right on par with usual.
