November 16, 2009

As of Monday, soybean harvest was nearly completed and growers had turned back to corn harvest, according to a November 15 report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field office. Corn harvest approached the halfway mark and is now three weeks behind average. The 2009 corn harvest now compares with the 1972 harvest.

High grain moisture levels continue to limit progress as drying capacity is unable to keep up with demand. Corn harvest was most advanced in southeast Nebraska, while many Panhandle producers were again hindered by snow late in the week. (Progress in southeast Nebraska was hindered Monday, November 16 when it received 8 inches of snow.)

Other activities throughout the state included moving cattle to stalk fields, fall tillage, and applying fertilizer where conditions allowed.

Corn conditions rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 13% fair, 53% good, and 26% excellent, near last year’s good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 83% good or excellent while dryland fields rated 74%, both above year ago levels. Corn harvested was 48% complete, well behind last year’s 66% and 21 days behind the average of 86%.

Soybean harvest was 97% complete, behind last year’s 100% and the 99% average.

Sorghum harvest was 44% complete, behind last year’s 60% and 20 days behind the 87% average.

Winter wheat conditions rated 0% very poor, 1% poor, 29% fair, 59% good, and 11% excellent, below last year’s 82% good or excellent rating.

Pasture and range conditions rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 20% fair, 60% good, and 15% excellent, above last year’s good or excellent condition.

This release is based on data from FSA county directors, county extension educators, NOAA, and the High Plains Regional Climate Center. County comments and reports can be found at: http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Nebraska/Publication//Crop_Progress_&_Condition/cmts_cur.htm

Nebraska Field Office
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service