June 1, 2011

Corn planting advanced to 97% complete and soybean to 78% complete, according to the May 31 Nebraska Weather and Crops report from the Nebraska Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Minimal progress was made since the May 22 report when 94% of the corn and 68% of the soybeans had been planted.

Field work during that period was hampered due to significant rainfall, strong winds, and below average temperatures. Rains fell across the state, with the heaviest amounts in central and south central Nebraska where some areas recorded over 5 inches.

• Corn condition rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 33% fair, 60% good, and 4% excellent. Corn planting advanced to 97% complete, near last year's 99%  and the 98% average. Corn emergence was 77%, near last year's 76% but three days behind the 83% average.
• Soybean planting was 78% complete, behind last year's 82% and the 84% average. Soybeans emergence was at 43%, ahead of last year’s 39% but behind the 45% average.
• Wheat conditions rated 1% very poor, 13% poor, 34% fair, 46% good, and 6% excellent, below last year’s 77% good to excellent and 60% average. Ninety percent of the wheat was jointed, ahead of last year’s 87% but behind the 96% average. Wheat headed was 33%, ahead of last year’s 29%, but five days behind the 52% average.
• Sorghum planting was 47% complete, ahead of 43% last year, but behind the 57% average. Sorghum emergence was 19%, ahead of last year's 10%, but behind the 21% average.
• Oat condition rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 14% fair, 77% good, and 7% excellent, below last year’s 92% good to excellent but above the 77% average. Eighty-nine percent of the state's oats had emerged, behind 99% last year and for the average. Seven percent of the oats had headed, ahead of 3% last year but behind the 13% average.
• Dry beans planting was 10% complete, behind 13% last year and th 25% average.
• Alfalfa rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 22% fair, 67% good, and 8% excellent, below last year’s 85% good to excellent, but above the 70% average. First cutting of alfalfa was 8% complete, well behind last year’s 27% and 10 days behind the 31% average.
• Wild hay conditions rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 27% fair, 62% good, and 8% excellent, below last year's 88% good to excellent.

Nebraska Field Office
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service