Midwest combines are logging steady hours despite late-season precipitation slowing momentum in spots, as Indiana producers match the national average for soybean harvest while trailing behind historical corn pace.
According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Crop Progress Report released Oct. 19, 2026, field operations across the country recalibrated following mid-October rain showers that limited field access to 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork in Indiana, down from 6.4 days the previous week.
Here is a closer look at where the harvest stands for Indiana and across the top-producing states.
Corn Harvest Mechanics: Indiana Steady, Nationally Lagging
Hoosier growers pushed corn harvest to 46% complete for the week ending Oct. 18, advancing 12 percentage points from the prior week. Indiana’s harvest pace currently sits right on its five-year average (2021–2025) of 46%. Crop maturity is nearly wrapped up across the state at 94% mature, trailing slightly behind the five-year average of 96%.
Nationally, combine progress is running behind historical trends:
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Corn Harvested: 44% of the nation’s corn crop is out of the field, up from 33% the previous week, but trailing the five-year average of 52%.
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Corn Maturity: 95% of the 18 major corn-producing states’ crop has reached maturity, compared to the five-year average of 96%.
Condition ratings for Indiana corn remain overwhelmingly favorable. Indiana corn is rated 64% good-to-excellent (56% good, 8% excellent), with 28% in fair condition and just 8% rated poor or very poor. Nationally, 56% of the corn crop rates good-to-excellent (43% good, 13% excellent), matching the previous week’s condition breakdown.
| Crop Metric | Indiana (Oct. 18) | Indiana 5-Yr Avg. | U.S. Total (Oct. 18) | U.S. 5-Yr Avg. |
| Corn Mature | 94% | 96% | 95% | 96% |
| Corn Harvested | 46% | 46% | 44% | 52% |
| Corn Good/Excellent | 64% | — | 56% | — |
Soybean Progress: Harvest Matches Average
Indiana soybean producers capitalized on open weather windows early in the week, pushing harvest to 59% complete. That reflects a 15-point weekly jump and puts Indiana exactly on par with its five-year average of 59%. Leaf drop is virtually complete across the state at 96%, compared to the five-year average of 98%.
Across the 18 key soybean-producing states:
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Soybeans Harvested: 64% of the national crop is harvested, making significant gains from 46% the previous week and nearly catching the five-year average of 65%.
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Soybeans Dropping Leaves: 96% of national acreage has dropped leaves, aligning closely with the five-year average of 97%.
| Crop Metric | Indiana (Oct. 18) | Indiana 5-Yr Avg. | U.S. Total (Oct. 18) | U.S. 5-Yr Avg. |
| Soybeans Dropping Leaves | 96% | 98% | 96% | 97% |
| Soybeans Harvested | 59% | 59% | 64% | 65% |
Moisture Profile & Pasture Health
Recent rains provided welcome moisture top-ups for fall-seeded crops and pasture acres across the Eastern Corn Belt. Indiana’s topsoil moisture is listed at 70% adequate-to-surplus (66% adequate, 4% surplus), with 23% short and 7% very short. Subsoil moisture levels show a similar profile at 67% adequate-to-surplus (63% adequate, 4% surplus), while 33% remains short to very short.
Nationally, topsoil moisture across the 48 states sits at 66% adequate-to-surplus (59% adequate, 7% surplus), while subsoil moisture stands at 59% adequate-to-surplus (54% adequate, 5% surplus).
Hoosier livestock producers benefit from solid pasture conditions heading into late autumn. Indiana pasture and range conditions rate 55% good-to-excellent (50% good, 5% excellent), with 33% fair and only 12% poor or very poor. By comparison, national pasture ratings sit significantly lower, with only 23% rated good-to-excellent across the 48 states and 45% rated poor or very poor.
