July 1, 2009

For the week endingJune 28, warm temperatures and high humidity helpedpush crop development, according to USDA's NationalAgricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Overthree-fourths of the wheat was turning color and the firstfields have been harvested in the Southeast and South CentralDistricts.

Farmers were focused on applying herbicides andbaling hay. Livestock producers were busy trying to keepanimals from overheating due to the high temperaturescombined with high humidity. Significant losses werereported in several counties.

Temperatures averaged 2 degreesabove normal; however, temperatures in the Panhandle werebelow normal. The highs ranged into triple digits to lows in the high 40's. Over a half inch of rain was recorded in alldistricts except for the East Central and Northeast Districts.Both top soil and subsoil moisture conditions are the best theyhave been since 2000.

 

Crop Condition

• Corn conditions rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 13% fair, 56% good, and 26% excellent, well above last year's 70% good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 81% good or excellent with dryland fields rated 83%, both above year ago levels.
• Soybean conditions rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 12% fair,62% good, and 23% excellent, well above last year's 69%good or excellent condition. Soybeans blooming were 2% complete ahead of last year but behind the 8%average.
• Wheat conditions rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 19% fair,54% good, and 19% excellent, well above last year's 58%good or excellent condition. Wheat turning color was77%, ahead of last year's 72% but six days behind theaverage of 87%. Thirteen percent of the wheat was ripe, ahead of last year's 3% but six days behind the average of 32%. The first fieldswere being harvested.
• Alfalfa conditions rated 2% very poor, 8% poor, 25% fair,53% good, and 12% excellent, below last year's 74% goodor excellent condition. First cutting was 92% complete,ahead of last year's 88% but behind the average of 96%. Secondcutting was 15% complete, well ahead of last year's4% but behind the 21% average.
• Oat conditions rated 0% very poor, 7% poor, 9% fair,66% good, and 18% excellent, below last year's 91% goodor excellent condition. Oats headed was 86%, near last year's 83% but behind the 91% average. The first fields have beenharvested for grain.
• Sorghum conditions rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 22% fair,64% good, and 11% excellent, above last year's 69% goodor excellent condition. Sorghum emerged was 96%,ahead of last year's 92% but even with the average.
• Dry bean conditions rated 2% very poor, 15 poor,24% fair, 49% good, and 10 excellent, well above the 44%good or excellent last year. Dry bean emerged was 80%,behind last year's 88% and the 90% average.
• Proso millet planted was 66%, a week behind last year's 88% and six days behind the 82% average.
• Pasture andrange conditions rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 18% fair,59% good, and 20% excellent, above last year's 71% goodor excellent condition.

Nebraska Field Office
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service