Whether the crops are ready or not, the freezing temps that have slid through corn and soybean country in the last few days have slammed the book on the growing season in most of the Midwest.

So, what's that mean? About a quarter of the country's corn will leave the field immature. As of this past weekend, about 3/4 of the nation's corn crop is fully matured, according to Tuesday's USDA Crop Progress report. That's almost 20% more than a week ago, but still almost 20% below the previous 5-year average.

Corn harvest is at a similar pace: 13% of the corn crop's out of the field, versus the previous 5-year average of 35%. Only 3% of the corn crop was harvested in the last week, according to Tuesday's report.

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The action's just as slow with the soybean crop. While 89% of that crop is matured (closer to the normal 95% level for this week of the year), only 23% has been harvested, less than half of the usual pace by this point (57%).

Actual soybean development and harvest progress ranges widely, farmers say. In an Agriculture.com poll this week, the majority of farmers say their crop is yielding about average (38%), but 22% say they're below average while 25% say better than average. It's a mixed bag so far, at least for those who have been able to start harvesting, which remains a challenge for other farmers.

"It will be next week before they will be mature and, if the rain stops, we might try to run some," says Agriculture.com Crop Talk member SD455. "The beans that have been run are going around 50 bushels/acre."

It's a mix of conditions in some areas, and while drydown's coming quicker in places like Nebraska, it may be coming at a cost to yields, says Farmers for the Future (FFF) network member Scott Strand.

"Corn, not enough to report yet, but we are hearing some test weight issues out of Iowa and the crop is drying down unusually quick in Nebraska, where a week ago they were 30% moisture and now they are 19% moisture. They are concerned that they have lost some test weight in this quick of a drydown," he says in a FFF Network forum. "Beans in Iowa are a little disappointing to start, but they are still pretty good. Beans in Minnesota are better than expected, hands down! There is a pocket around Mankato where beans are coming in less than last year, but the other parts of the state farmers are beating last year pretty good, 5 bushels or so."