A dry late-autumn stretch allowed Indiana farmers to keep combine cabs rolling at full tilt during the final week of October, pushing both corn and soybean harvest pace ahead of five-year state averages.
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Crop Progress Report released Nov. 2 shows Indiana operators logged 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Nov. 1, 2026. That window of favorable weather enabled widespread progress across row-crop fields in every corner of the state, even as dry topsoil conditions continue to expand.
Indiana Corn Harvest Pulls Ahead of Five-Year Pace
Indiana corn harvest advanced by 14 percentage points over the seven-day period, reaching 75% complete as of Nov. 1. That progress puts Hoosier growers 4 points ahead of their 2021–2025 five-year average of 71%, up from 61% the previous week.
On the national stage, corn harvest across the 18 primary producing states matched Indiana’s weekly gain, jumping 14 points to reach 74% complete (up from 60% on Oct. 25). However, unlike Indiana, the national harvest pace still trails its five-year average of 77% by 3 points—largely due to earlier harvest delays across key portions of the Western Corn Belt and Upper Midwest.
Soybean Harvest Enters Final Stretch
Indiana bean combines made rapid work of remaining acreage, taking advantage of low field moisture to advance harvest to 87% complete by Nov. 1. That represents a 12-point surge from 75% the prior week and maintains a comfortable 6-point cushion over the state’s five-year average of 81%.
Nationally, soybean harvest is rapidly drawing to a close at 88% complete, up 9 points from 79% the previous week. U.S. soybean harvest remains 4 percentage points ahead of the national five-year average of 84%.
Open Weather Aids Fieldwork, Drives Soil Deficits
Uninterrupted field access was the driver behind the week’s gains. Indiana’s 6.5 fieldwork days nearly matched the previous week’s 6.8 days, giving custom operators and farm families consistent run time to empty bins and move grain into storage.
However, the continued dry stretch is drawing down moisture reserves:
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Indiana Topsoil Moisture: Rated 48% short to very short (13% very short, 35% short), 50% adequate, and 2% surplus.
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Indiana Subsoil Moisture: Rated 46% short to very short (15% very short, 31% short), 52% adequate, and 2% surplus.
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National Topsoil Moisture (48 States): Rated 38% short to very short (13% very short, 25% short), 56% adequate, and 6% surplus.
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National Subsoil Moisture (48 States): Rated 42% short to very short (15% very short, 27% short), 54% adequate, and 4% surplus.
With soybean harvest in its final tail end and corn harvest past the three-quarter mark, Indiana producers are poised to finish row-crop harvest well ahead of freeze-up, though attention is turning toward the need for late-fall recharge precipitation.
