USDA’s weekly report for the week ending September 13, 2026, showed U.S. corn rated 57% good to excellent, up one percentage point after four straight weeks of decline. It was the first weekly increase since July 12—but the rating remained below the same week in 2025, and a later report showed it unchanged.
What changed in the September 13 report?
The good-to-excellent share rose from 56% for the week ending September 6, which Agriculture.com / Successful Farming described as a season low, to 57% for the week ending September 13. Pro Farmer reported that this was the first week-over-week increase since July 12, following four weeks of declines. The September 13 condition breakdown was 57% good to excellent, 26% fair, and 17% poor to very poor. Agriculture.com / Successful Farming’s September 8 report and Pro Farmer’s September 14 report cover the weekly movement.
How does the rating compare with other benchmarks?
The September 13 good-to-excellent share was 10 percentage points below the 67% reported for the corresponding week a year earlier. That comparison describes the ratings; it does not establish why they differed. The September 13 report also put corn maturity at 42%, four percentage points above its five-year average, and harvest progress at 8% across 13 of the 18 major reporting states, compared with a five-year average of 6%. These are separate measures: condition is not maturity or harvested acreage. Agriculture.com / Successful Farming’s September 14 report provides those figures and the year-earlier comparison.
Did the improvement continue?
Not in the next located national condition figure. For the week ending September 27, good-to-excellent condition was still 57%, unchanged from the preceding week. Corn maturity had reached 72%, one percentage point above the five-year average. The September 27 figures are reproduced in the University of Wisconsin Crops and Soils Extension outlook dated October 2, 2026. The one-point rise in mid-September should therefore be read as a limited rebound, not a continuing upward trend.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- GROW THE SWEETEST, MOST TENDER HEIRLOOM CORN - Each packet contains 100 seeds of Golden Bantam corn (Zea mays). This cherished variety is known for its exceptional flavor and reliable harvests. Perfect for home gardeners seeking authentic, time-tested varieties.
- SWEET CORN SEEDS FOR BEGINNERS & PROS. These vegetable seeds for planting outdoors are ideal for all skill levels. Hardy and adaptable, they thrive in full sun and a variety of soils. With low-maintenance care, enjoy growing your own corn seeds from a trusted heirloom variety loved for its sweet, tender kernels.
- PERFECT FOR MOST REGIONS – COOL CLIMATE FRIENDLY. Designed to grow in USDA zones 3-11, these corn seeds are resilient and adapt to temperatures from 65°F to 95°F. Direct sow seeds outdoors for best results—no transplanting needed. Your garden will be filled with tall, healthy stalks reaching up to 6 feet.
- MATURES EARLY FOR QUICK HARVESTS. Enjoy a bountiful crop in just 75-80 days. Each Golden Bantam stalk produces 1-2 ears of corn with 8-12 kernel rows. Perfect for backyard gardens or homesteads, it’s a reliable, fast-growing option to maximize your gardening efforts.
- VERSATILE CULINARY USES – FRESH OR PRESERVED. Grill, boil, or add to recipes like chowder, cornbread, and salsa. These sweet corn seeds yield kernels that freeze, can, or dry well, letting you enjoy homegrown corn all year round. A perfect addition for both fresh meals and long-term storage.
What a condition rating can—and cannot—tell you
USDA’s weekly crop-condition report classifies the share of the crop in condition categories. A higher good-to-excellent percentage means a larger reported share fell into those categories; it is not a direct measurement of yield. The reported one-point rise alone does not establish a change in expected production, futures prices, or farm revenue, nor do the cited reports identify a cause for the increase.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to check USDA’s reports and historical data
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) National Crop Progress page links to weekly reports, historical data, condition charts, definitions, and related resources. NASS also provides Crop Progress Gridded Layers, which it describes as synthetic representations of confidential county-level data; the archive covers growing-season weeks from 2015 onward. Those layers are not raw county observations.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Fresh Harvest: Seeds Grown in 2025 for Your 2026 Garden Season - High-Quality and Ready to Thrive - Kickstart Your Garden with the Best Seeds.
- Planting Perfection: 50 High-Quality Seeds for Your Garden - Grow, Thrive, and Flourish with Abundance - Embark on Your Green Adventure with Ohio Heirloom Silver Queen Sweet Corn Seeds
- Enjoy Your Bounty in Just 90 Days - Swift Harvest Guarantee - Experience Freshness Sooner - Elevate Your Garden with Rapid Results!
- Large 8-9" ears with 14-16 rows of white kernels - Robust 8-ft plants - Proven for productivity, flavor, and wide adaptability - Elevate your harvest experience!
- The ultimate white sweet corn - Silver Queen! Late-season perfection with unbeatable tenderness and flavor. Harvest-ready in just 90 days. Don't miss out!
Rank #4
- Hybrid Variety: Peaches & Cream Sweet Corn is a hybrid, sugary-enhanced (SE) bicolor variety known for its combination of yellow and white kernels, offering a dual flavor experience in each bite.
- Early Maturity: This corn variety matures relatively early, with some sources indicating a harvest time around 80 to 90 days after planting, making it suitable for regions with shorter growing seasons.
- Planting Tips: For optimal pollination and yield, plant in blocks rather than single rows, ensuring at least four rows for proper cross-pollination. Seeds should be planted when soil temperatures reach 60°F or above for good germination.
- Flavor and Texture: Noted for its sweetness and tenderness, Peaches & Cream corn is praised for its fine texture and rich flavor, which can be enjoyed fresh, frozen, or cooked, making it versatile for various culinary uses.
- Quality: All Sweet Corn seeds packaged by Seed Needs are intended for the current and the following growing seasons. All seeds are stored in a temperature controlled facility that is free of significant amounts of moisture.
Rank #3
- GLASS GEM CORN SEED - Produces highly variegated, three to eight inch cobs with translucent kernels that can be used for popping, grinding or merely staring at and marveling at the immense diversity of the natural world. Blossoms attract pollinators such as bees and other beneficial insects.
- EASY TO GROW, HARVEST, AND ENJOY - Beautiful, vibrant corn variety. 120 days from seed to dried cobs. Annual. Start seeds in late spring. Grows during summer in most climates. Each packet contains a minimum of 50 seeds
- SEEDS YOU CAN TRUST - Our seeds are certified organic, non-GMO, heirloom, untreated, and open-pollinated. This makes sourcing seed from our company an easy and ethical choice. All our seeds are germination tested for viability to ensure you have a high quality growing experience.
- KNOW THE SOURCE, GROWN IN THE USA - Our company is located in Ojai, California. We take great pride in our plants and are dedicated to bringing you the best quality seeds for your garden. We are in the business of life.
- GREAT CARE, GREAT RESULTS - Our team is dedicated to bringing you only the best selection! We have spent years developing our expertise as seed specialists. Our seeds are tried and true, resulting in better germination rates and hardy harvests! All our seed packets contain complete growing instructions, including optimal planting depth, spacing for best growth, days for germination and harvest, and other seasonal and temperature requirements.
Rank #2
- Organic, Silver, Super, Sweet Corn Seed,Hawaiian #9, Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Certified
- All Seeds Lots are Tested and Germinated for Growth
- We always give you EXTRA SEEDS, BONUS SEEDS in every Package to make sure You get A Great Crop
- FREE EXTRA SEEDS IN EVERY PACK TO MAKE SURE YOU GET FULL GERMINATION
- May The Blessings of the Creator Be With You!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
