September 16, 2013

Approximately 16% of Nebraska's corn had reached maturity as of Sunday, according to the Septenmber USDA Crop Condition Report. This was behind the long-term average of 29% and well below last year's unusually early maturity which showed 71% of the crop mature at this point. 

For the week ending September 15, temperatures averaged above normal for the fourth week in a row. Rainfall across southern Nebraska was expected to boost germination prospects for fall-planted winter wheat but came too late to impact western dryland crops, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Corn silage harvest was active in many areas and harvest of high moisture corn for feedlots had started. Dry bean and millet harvests were active in western counties. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 20% very short, 40% short, 40% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 29% very short, 43% short, 28% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crop Conditions

All corn condition rated 7% very poor, 7% poor, 23% fair, 45% good, and 18% excellent. Irrigated corn conditions rated 81% good or excellent, compared to 76% average. Dryland corn conditions rated 36% good or excellent, compared to 59% average. Corn dented was 91%, behind 100% last year but near 92% average. Corn mature was 16%, behind 71% last year and 29% average. Corn harvested was 2%, behind 21% last year and the average of 5%.

Soybean conditions rated 4% very poor, 9% poor, 27% fair, 49% good, and 11% excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves were 36%, behind 47% last year but ahead of 25% average. Harvest was 1% complete, behind 4% last year and equal with the 1% average.

Sorghum conditions rated 11% very poor, 19% poor, 32% fair, 36% good, and 2% excellent. Sorghum turning color was 84%, ahead of 66% last year and 75% average. Approximately 3% of the crop was mature, behind 17% last year and 9% average.

Winter wheat was 22% planted, near 19% last year but behind 30% average.

Proso millet was 62% harvested, ahead of 34% last year and 26% average.

Dry bean conditions rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 20% fair, 63% good, and 13% excellent. Dry beans dropping leaves were 91%, ahead of the 63% last year and 58% average. Thirty-one percent of the crop was harvested, ahead of 17% last year and the average of 21%.

Alfalfa conditions were 6% very poor, 18% poor, 32% fair, 38% good, and 6% excellent. The fourth cutting of alfalfa was 38% complete, behind 77% last year and 47% average.