U.S. farmers pushed ahead with harvest activities last week, bringing in a substantial portion of the nation's soybeans and corn crops, according to a Reuters poll of 11 analysts released Monday. While recent rains across the eastern Corn Belt slowed some fieldwork, the pace of progress remained strong, with analysts estimating the soybean harvest at 73% complete and corn harvest at 59%, both up sharply from the previous week.

These estimates come amid an ongoing government shutdown that has halted the U.S. Department of Agriculture's regular crop progress reports since September 29. With no USDA data available, market participants, co-ops, and producers are relying on private forecasts to gauge national progress and make input and marketing decisions.

A year ago, USDA data showed soybean harvest at 81% and corn at 65% during the same period-helped by unusually dry conditions that year. This season, the weather has been more variable, particularly in states like Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, where precipitation created short-term delays in some areas. Still, analysts say the U.S. is on track for a record corn crop and strong soybean yields, bolstered by favorable growing conditions earlier in the season.

In addition to harvest progress, analysts rated 63% of the corn crop in good-to-excellent condition, just one point below last week's average. This supports expectations for high yields, which remain critical for both domestic processors and export buyers, especially as global grain supplies tighten.

Meanwhile, winter wheat planting is advancing steadily, with 75% of the 2026 crop now in the ground, up from 66% the previous week. This year's wheat planting is progressing slightly faster than average, aided by adequate moisture and good field conditions in key growing states.

Below is a summary of this week's analyst estimates compared to the previous Reuters poll:

Note: Corn condition reflects the percentage of crop rated "good" or "excellent."

Without official USDA figures, the industry's reliance on analyst consensus is higher than usual. Grain markets, agribusinesses, and policymakers are closely monitoring both private data and field reports as harvest enters its final stretch. The current pace suggests the bulk of the nation's soy and corn crops will be completed soon-assuming weather cooperates.

As the calendar advances into late October, the focus now turns to how quickly remaining acres can be harvested, how yields compare to projections, and whether winter wheat continues to establish well ahead of colder conditions.