Oct. 11, 2011

For the week ending October 9, soybean harvest advanced quickly until rainfall late in the week slowed progress, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Precipitation was welcome to suppress field fires sparked by combines, dry conditions, and high winds.

Temperatures for the week were well above normal. The eastern two-thirds of the state saw temperatures averaging 7 to 12 degrees above normal while the Panhandle averaged 3 degrees above normal. High temperatures were in the 90s and lows were mainly in the 40s. For much of the state, the rain that fell was the first significant precipitation in five weeks. However, most of the rain was in a concentrated band that ran through the central third of the state. Some south central locations recorded 4 to 6 inches while eastern counties bordering the Missouri River received little or no rainfall.

Field Crops Report

• Corn condition rated 2% very poor, 5% poor, 19% fair, 55% good, and 19% excellent, below 80% good to excellent last year but equal to average. Irrigated corn conditions rated 78% good to excellent and dryland corn rated 68%. Corn mature was 88%, behind 93% last year but ahead of 85% average. Corn harvest was at 19%, behind 27% last year but near 20% average.
• Soybean condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 18% fair, 56% good, and 22% excellent, near last year. With soybeans 96% had dropped their leaves, near 97% last year and 95% average. Soybean harvest was at 63%, near 65% last year but well ahead of 49% average.
• Winter wheat seeded was 92%, near 93% last year and 91% average. Wheat emerged was 73%, ahead of 65% last year and 66% average.
• Sorghum conditions rated 0% very poor, 6% poor, 17% fair, 61% good, and 16% excellent, near 75% good to excellent last year but ahead of 73% average. Sorghum mature was 84%, behind 87% last year but ahead of 74% average. Sorghum harvested was 15%, near 14% last year but ahead of 11% average.
• Proso millet harvest was 82%, behind 85% last year but ahead of 78% average.
• Dry beans harvest was 94%, equal to last year but ahead of 87% average.
• The fourth cutting of alfalfa was at 89%, ahead of 85% last year and 83% average.
• Pasture and range conditions rated 2% very poor, 8% poor, 26% fair, 59% good, and 5% excellent, below last year’s 73% good to excellent but above 55% average.

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/Publications/Crop_Progress_&_Condition/NEcurrent.asp