May 16, 2011

Despite planting delays in April, progress for corn and soybean is comparable to last year and the five-year average.

For the week ending May 15, record high temperatures early in the week were followed by unseasonably cool and wet conditions which caused spring planting progress to slow, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Strong winds made herbicide application difficult. A few fields of alfalfa were cut and sugarbeet planting was concluding.

Planting Progress

• Corn planting advanced to 84% complete, behind last year’s 87% but near 83% average. Corn emerged was 21%, behind 33% last year and average.
• Soybean planting was 40% complete, near 41% last year but ahead of 35% average. Soybeans emerged was 2% behind last year’s 5% and 4% average.
• Sorghum planting was 17%, near 16% last year and average. The first sorghum has emerged.
• Wheat jointed was at 71%, ahead of last year’s 59% but below the 75% average. A few wheat fields showed heads. Wheat conditions rated 2% very poor, 15% poor, 36% fair, 42% good, and 5% excellent, below last year’s 72% good to excellent and 61% average.
• Oats emerged was at 77%, behind 90% last year and 91% average. Oats condition rated 0% very poor, 4% poor, 19% fair, 74% good, and 3% excellent, below last year’s 91% good to excellent.
• The first alfalfa fields were cut. Alfalfa rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 27% fair, 64% good, and 6% excellent, below last year’s 88% good to excellent.
• Wild hay conditions rated 0% very poor, 4% poor, 33% fair, 59% good, and 4% excellent, below 87% good to excellent last year.
• Pasture and range conditions rated 0% very poor, 7% poor, 30% fair, 58% good, and 5% excellent, well below last year’s 84% good to excellent but near 68% average.