October 12, 2007

For the week ending October 7, corn harvest progress was one week ahead of last year and five days ahead of average, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.

Corn conditions rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 16% fair, 49% good, and 30% excellent, well above last year's 54% good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 87% good or excellent while dryland fields rated 71%, both above year ago levels. Corn mature was 91%, behind last year's 93% but ahead of the 88% average. Corn harvested was 28%, ahead of last year's 17% and 21% average. Stalk integrity continues a concern as high winds and wet conditions impacted stands in many counties.

Soybean conditions rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 16% fair, 53% good, and 27% excellent, well above last year's 62% good or excellent condition. Soybeans dropping leaves was 96%, near last year's 98% and 97% average. Soybeans harvested was 34%, two days behind last year's 44% and four days behind the 48% average.

Alfalfa fourth cutting was 80% complete, behind the 83% of last year and average.

Sorghum conditions rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 14% fair, 47% good, and 3%7 excellent, well above last year's 56% good or excellent condition. Sorghum mature was 93%, ahead of last year's 85% and 82% average. Sorghum harvested was 11%, behind last year's 14% and 20% average.

Dry bean harvest neared completion at 94%, well ahead of last year's 67% and 70% average.

Winter wheat seeded was 91%, ahead of last year's 89 but even with the five-year average. Winter wheat emerged was 66%, ahead of last year's 62% but behind the 68% average.

Proso millet harvest also neared completion and was 93%, well ahead of last year's 68% and 74% average.