Lingering effects from last spring's flooding are taking a bite from Midwest harvests. Agriculture Department statistics show several Midwestern states are well behind long-term averages for the progress of the corn harvest, and yields appear disappointing so far, said Jenny Rees, an educator with the Nebraska Extension. Corn Belt states are seeing a mixed picture, with Nebraska just slightly off long-term averages and Iowa and Illinois lagging. And even in places where numbers appear encouraging — Nebraska has harvested 94% of soybeans — there's a caveat: Severe flooding meant farmers planted fewer acres in the first place. The latest weekly crop progress report from USDA said 60% of corn has been harvested in Nebraska, down from 62% a year ago and the long-term average of 69%.
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