June 6, 2011

For the week ending June 5, warmer temperatures and windy conditions allowed farmers to get back into wet fields and move toward completion of spring planting, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.

Precipitation fell across most areas of the state, however totals were generally less than .75 inch. Crop conditions for the second week showed improvements, but development continues to lag behind average with wheat heading one week behind average. Herbicide applications were once again delayed with the weeks windy conditions.

• Corn condition rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 25% fair, 66% good, and 7% excellent. Corn planting advanced to 99% complete, near 100% last year and average. Corn emerged was 88%, behind 94% last year and five days behind 95% average.
• Soybean planting was 91% complete, behind 93% last year but same as 91% average. Soybeans emergence was 65%, behind last year’s 71% and average.
• Wheat condition rated 1% very poor, 12% poor, 30% fair, 49% good, and 8% excellent, below last year’s 75% good to excellent but near 58% average. Wheat jointed was 96%, ahead of last year’s 91% but behind 98% average. Wheat headed was 54%, behind last year’s 65% and one week behind 78% average.
• Sorghum planting was 72%, ahead of 65% last year and equal to 72% average. Sorghum emergence was 34%, same as last year but behind the 40% average.
• Oat condition rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 14% fair, 75% good, and 9% excellent, below last year’s 90% good to excellent but above 75% average. Oats emerged was at 93%, behind 100% last year and average. Oats headed was 14%, same as last year but behind 27% average.
• Dry bean planting was 19% complete, behind 59% last year and 53% average. Dry beans emerged was 3%, behind 5% last year and 13% average.
• Alfalfa rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 17% fair, 69% good, and 11% excellent, below last year’s 89% good to excellent but above 68% average. First cutting of alfalfa was 28% complete, well behind last year’s 56% and over a week behind 49% average.
• Wild hay conditions rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 26% fair, 62% good, and 9% excellent, below 90% good to excellent last year.