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1/3 of U.S. corn crop remains unharvested

About a third of the U.S. corn crop remains unharvested to begin this week.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the usual pace for mid-November is 85 percent.

“Looking over the last 25 years, there was only one year with a slower harvest to this point in the season. That was 2009 (when) 42 percent of the corn was harvested on (the same) date.”

He blames a combination of wet fields and wet corn for the delays, especially to the north.

“Michigan, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. Perhaps most remarkable, North Dakota with just 15 percent harvested. the five-year average is 76 percent.”

The U.S. soybean harvest, at 85 percent, lags seven points behind the five-year average.