Corn and Soybean Crop Quality Declines Slightly as Planting Nears Completion
The USDA's latest crop progress report, released on June 8, 2026, highlights minor changes in the quality of corn and soybean crops as planting nears completion. Soybean quality ratings dropped by one point to 65% rated good-to-excellent, while corn quality remained steady at 67%, though with slight shifts in the good-to-excellent split. Winter wheat quality continues to struggle, with only 25% rated good-to-excellent, a decline from previous weeks. Planting progress for corn has reached 97%, slightly ahead of the five-year average, with 86% of the crop now emerged. Soybean planting is 92% complete, with 79% of the crop emerged, both ahead of historical averages. Winter wheat harvest progress has improved to 11%, surpassing the five-year average of 6%. Spring wheat planting is nearly complete at 98%, with emergence at 87%, and quality ratings for spring wheat have improved by five points to 52% rated good-to-excellent. 
