May 23, 2011

For the week ending May 22, significant rainfall and below average temperatures were again recorded across the state, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.

Dry conditions during the first half of the week allowed corn planting to advance to near completion with soybean planting ahead of average. Crop and pasture conditions improved with the recent rains. However, heavy rains caused localized flooding and soil erosion in isolated areas. Dry bean planting was just underway and first cutting of alfalfa was limited.

Planting Progress

• Corn planting advanced to 94% complete, near 95% last year and average. Corn emergence was at 55%, near 56% last year but two days behind the average of 61%.
• Soybean planting was 68% complete, ahead of 60% last year and 64% average. Twenty percent of the soybeans had emerged. compared with 14% last year and the 18% average.
• Wheat conditions rated 1% very poor, 12% poor, 32% fair, 48% good, and 7% excellent, below last year’s 75% good to excellent and 60% average. Wheat jointed was 78%, ahead of last year’s 75% but below 91% average. Wheat headed was 8%, ahead of last year’s 5%, but six days behind 23% average.
• Sorghum planting was 32%, ahead of 20% last year and near 35% average. Sorghum emerged was 6%, ahead of 5% last year and equal to average.
• Oats condition rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 12% fair, 80% good, and 6% excellent, below last year’s 91% good to excellent but ahead of 79% average. Oats emerged was at 84%, behind 97% last year and 98% average.
• Dry beans planting was 1% complete, behind 5% last year and the 10% average.
• Alfalfa rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 23% fair, 65% good, and 9% excellent, below last year’s 88% good to excellent, but above 72% average. First cutting of alfalfa was 4% complete, behind last year’s 11% and 14% average.
• Wild hay conditions rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 27% fair, 63% good, and 7% excellent, below 90% good to excellent last year.
• Pasture and range conditions rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 21% fair, 70% good, and 6% excellent, well below last year’s 87% good to excellent but above 67% average.

Nebraska Field Office
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service