NASS: 70% of Topsoil and 75% of Subsoil Moisture Short to Very Short - UNL CropWatch, July 22, 2013

NASS: 70% of Topsoil and 75% of Subsoil Moisture Short to Very Short - UNL CropWatch, July 22, 2013

July 22, 2013

Another week of limited precipitation and seasonably hot temperatures stressed dryland crops. A release from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service noted that irrigation was underway across the state.

Wheat harvest continued in the west and advanced northward but progress was limited in the Panhandle due to high grain moisture levels. The second cutting of alfalfa was near three-fourths complete.

Topsoil moisture supplies declined and rated 26% very short, 44% short, 30% adequate, and 0% surplus. Statewide, subsoil moisture supplies also declined and rated 35% very short, 40 short, 25 adequate, and 0 surplus.

Field Crops Report

  • Corn, irrigated and dryland combined, rated 4% very poor, 7% poor, 23% fair, 50% good, and 16% excellent. Irrigated corn conditions rated 82% good or excellent, compared to 75% average. Dryland corn conditions rated 45% good or excellent, compared to 68% average. Poorest dryland conditions were in south central counties. Corn silking was 50% complete, behind 85% last year and the average of 64%.

    Nationally, the average of the 18 states producing 92% of the U.S. corn crop showed 43% reported silking, behind 84% at this point last year or the average of 56%. The same group, when reporting corn condition, reported the corn in better condition than at this point last year. Sixty-three percent of this national crop was rated in good to excellent condition while in 2012 only 26% was in this category. Other 2013 ratings, with 2012 ratings in parentheses, are fair – 26% (29%); poor – 8% (24%); and very poor – 3% (21%).
     
  • Soybean conditions rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 29% fair, 54% good, and 9% excellent. Sixty-five percent of the crop was blooming, behind 79% last year but near the average of 61%. Thirteen percent of the crop was setting pods, behind 25% last year but near the average of 15%.

    Nationally, a look at the top 18 states producting 95% of U.S. soybeans, indicates 8% had set pods, compared to 33% at this time last year, and an average of 19%. Much as with corn, average condition for this U.S. soybean crop was better than at this time last year. 2013 ratings, with 2012 in parantheses, are excellent – 13% (4%); good – 51% (27%); fair – 28% (34%); poor – 6% (22%); and very poor – 2% (213%).
     
  • Sorghum conditions rated 2% very poor, 16% poor, 32% fair, 30% good, and 20% excellent.
     
  • Wheat conditions rated 25% very poor, 25% poor, 33% fair, 16% good, and 1% excellent. Wheat ripe was 84%, behind 100% last year and 90% average. Fifty-two percent of the crop was harvested, well behind 99% last year and 68% average.
     
  • Oat conditions rated 4% very poor, 11% poor, 31% fair, 51% good, and 3% excellent. Oats harvested were 66%, compared to last year’s 93% and 52% average.
     
  • Dry bean conditions rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 14% fair, 76% good, and 8% excellent. Dry beans blooming were 27%, behind 34% last year but near the average of 29%.
     
  • Alfalfa conditions were 6% very poor, 13% poor, 30% fair, 47% good, and 4% excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 73% complete, behind last year’s 92% and the average of 74%.
     
  • Pasture and range condition was 16% very poor, 23% poor, 38% fair, 22% good, and 1% excellent.

Nebraska Field Office
National Agricultural Statistics Service

 

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