Oct. 18, 2010

For the week ending Oct. 17, harvest was progressing smoothly across much of Nebraska, except for long lines and storage limits at some elevators, according to a report from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Temperatures averaged 2 degrees above normal across the state; southwest Nebraska experienced its first hard freeze.

• Corn harvest was 50% complete, well ahead of 13% last year and 29% average. Soybean harvest was 89% complete, well ahead of 54% last year and the 69% average.
   
• Sorghum was 94% mature, well ahead of last year’s 74% and 85% average. Sorghum harvested was 28%, ahead of 7% last year and 24% average.
   
• Winter wheat seeding was 98% complete, ahead of 95% last year and 96% average. Winter wheat emerged was 81%, ahead of last year’s 76% but near 82% average.
   
• Dry beans harvested was 98%, ahead of 92% last year and 94% average.
   
• Proso millet harvest was at 93%, ahead of 63% last year and 83% average.
   
• Alfalfa fourth cutting progressed to 91%, ahead of 89% last year and near 92% average.
   
• Pasture and range conditions rated 2% very poor,