diff --git a/mosfet/jobs/gather_crop.py b/mosfet/jobs/gather_crop.py
index 43d651c..8813540 100644
--- a/mosfet/jobs/gather_crop.py
+++ b/mosfet/jobs/gather_crop.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from mosfet.info import mobs
 
 class GatherCropStates:
     CROPS_PER_BATCH = 16
+    SECTION_MATURITY_WEIGHT = 2.0
 
     def idle(self):
         return None
@@ -57,28 +58,50 @@ class GatherCropStates:
                     if position not in self.bad_crops and
                     position in component_for]
         if not eligible:
+            self.active_section_maturity = (0, 0)
             return None, 0
 
+        mature_by_component = {}
+        candidates_by_component = {}
+        for position in eligible:
+            component = component_for[position]
+            mature_by_component[component] = (
+                mature_by_component.get(component, 0) + 1)
+            candidates_by_component.setdefault(component, []).append(position)
+
         active_component = component_for.get(self.active_section_anchor)
-        active_candidates = [position for position in eligible
-                             if component_for[position] == active_component]
+        active_candidates = candidates_by_component.get(active_component, [])
         if active_candidates:
             section_candidates = active_candidates
+            selected_component = active_component
         else:
-            # Begin with the nearest available patch. Once selected, keep its
-            # connected component active until no mature crops remain there.
-            first_crop = min(eligible, key=lambda position: (
-                utils.phyp(center, position), position))
-            selected_component = component_for[first_crop]
-            section_candidates = [
-                position for position in eligible
-                if component_for[position] == selected_component
-            ]
+            # Favor a nearby section if maturity is similar, but allow a
+            # farther, substantially more-mature section to win. Once chosen,
+            # keep working that connected component until it has no mature
+            # crops left, matching the existing patch-stability behavior.
+            ranked_sections = []
+            for component, positions in candidates_by_component.items():
+                nearest_crop = min(positions, key=lambda position: (
+                    utils.phyp(center, position), position))
+                distance = utils.phyp(center, nearest_crop)
+                maturity = (mature_by_component[component] /
+                            component_sizes[component])
+                score = distance / (
+                    1.0 + self.SECTION_MATURITY_WEIGHT * maturity)
+                ranked_sections.append((
+                    score, distance, -mature_by_component[component],
+                    nearest_crop, component,
+                ))
+            selected_component = min(ranked_sections)[-1]
+            section_candidates = candidates_by_component[selected_component]
 
         crop = min(section_candidates, key=lambda position: (
             utils.phyp(center, position), position))
+        section_size = component_sizes[selected_component]
         self.active_section_anchor = crop
-        return crop, component_sizes[component_for[crop]]
+        self.active_section_maturity = (
+            mature_by_component[selected_component], section_size)
+        return crop, section_size
 
     def find_new_crop(self):
         print('Finding new crop...')
@@ -111,8 +134,12 @@ class GatherCropStates:
             self.state = self.cleanup
             return
 
+        mature_count, total_count = self.active_section_maturity
+        maturity_percent = (100 * mature_count / total_count
+                            if total_count else 0)
         print('Found crop:', crop,
-              '(same-species section size={})'.format(section_size))
+              '(same-species section: {}/{} mature, {:.0f}%)'.format(
+                  mature_count, total_count, maturity_percent))
         self.crop = crop
         self.type_id = w.block_at(*crop)
         self.state = self.nav_to_crop
@@ -248,6 +275,7 @@ class GatherCropStates:
         self.seed_deadline = None
         self.seed_wait_logged = False
         self.active_section_anchor = None
+        self.active_section_maturity = (0, 0)
         self.bad_crops = []
         self.completed_crops = 0
 
diff --git a/tests/test_crop_priority.py b/tests/test_crop_priority.py
index 9d53b40..5fe68e7 100644
--- a/tests/test_crop_priority.py
+++ b/tests/test_crop_priority.py
@@ -43,6 +43,26 @@ class TestCropSectionPriority(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(next_patch, carrot_a)
         self.assertEqual(next_patch_size, 4)
 
+    def test_farther_section_wins_when_much_more_mature(self):
+        near_patch = {
+            (3, 64, 0), (2, 64, 0), (1, 64, 0), (0, 64, 0),
+            (3, 64, 1), (2, 64, 1), (1, 64, 1), (0, 64, 1),
+            (3, 64, 2), (2, 64, 2),
+        }
+        near_mature = (3, 64, 0)
+        far_patch = {
+            (4, 64, 0), (5, 64, 0), (4, 64, 1), (5, 64, 1),
+        }
+        crop_types = {position: 'wheat' for position in near_patch}
+        crop_types.update({position: 'carrots' for position in far_patch})
+
+        crop, size = self.job._select_crop(
+            [near_mature, *far_patch], crop_types, (0, 64, 0))
+
+        self.assertEqual(crop, (4, 64, 0))
+        self.assertEqual(size, len(far_patch))
+        self.assertEqual(self.job.active_section_maturity, (4, 4))
+
     def test_unripe_same_species_blocks_keep_patch_connected(self):
         mature = (0, 64, 0)
         replanted = (1, 64, 0)