May 4, 2010

For the week ending May 2, producers made progress with spring fieldwork activities and have planted almost half the corn acreage, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. High winds dried soils and improved feedlot conditions. Other activities included planting soybeans and sorghum and moving cattle to spring pastures.

Temperatures averaged 4 degrees below normal for the week with below freezing temperatures recorded in parts of the western half of the state. Highs ranged from the low 70s to upper 80s. Precipitation fell throughout the state with heaviest accumulations of over 1.5 inches in southeast Nebraska.

Field Crops and Pastures

• Corn planting was 48% complete statewide. This is the same as last year, but ahead of the 37% average. Corn emerged was 3% complete, which is the same as last year and average.
• Soybean planting was 8% complete, ahead of last year’s 6% and the 4% average.
• Sorghum planting was just underway at 1% complete, behind last year of 2%, but the same as average.
• Pasture and range conditions rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 13% fair, 72% good, and 13% excellent, well above last year’s 70% good and excellent and 62% average.

This release is based on data from FSA county directors, UNL 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/cmts_cur.htm