July 18, 2011

For the week ending July 17, rain in the Panhandle delayed progress of wheat harvest, while high humidity made curing of hay a challenge for producers, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Heat pushed corn pollination along with about a third of the crop showing silked ears.

Temperatures for the week averaged 1 degree above normal. Highs reached triple digits, but were mainly in the upper 90s. Lows were recorded mostly in the 60s. Rainfall accumulations of one to two inches were recorded in the northern two-thirds of the state with isolated locations receiving higher amounts.  Southeast Nebraska received limited precipitation.

Crop Conditions

• Corn condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 14% fair, 59% good, and 23% excellent. Irrigated corn conditions rated 82% good to excellent and dryland corn rated 83%. Corn silked was 34%, behind 55% last year and four days behind the average of 52%. Corn in dough stage was 2%, equal to last year and near the 3% average.
• Soybean condition rated 2% very poor, 3% poor, 15% fair, 60% good, and 20% excellent, above the 77% good to excellent from last year and the average of 71%. Soybeans blooming was at 41%, behind 50% last year and 53% average. Soybeans setting pods were 3%, behind 6% last year and the average of 11%.
• About 75% of the wheat was ripe, ahead of 69% last year but four days behind 86% average. Wheat harvest was 28% complete, behind 41% last year and 11 days behind the average of 60%.
• Sorghum conditions rated 0% very poor, 1% poor, 17% fair, 68% good, and 14% excellent, above 78% good to excellent last year and the average of 72%.
• Oat condition rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 10% fair, 79% good, and 9% excellent, near last year’s 87% good to excellent but above the average of 70%. About 30% of the oats have been harvested, behind 38% last year and the average of 37%.
• Dry bean condition rated 1% very poor, 9% poor, 24% fair, 58% good, and 8% excellent, below 75% good to excellent last year and 68% average.
• Alfalfa rated 0% very poor, 1% poor, 15% fair, 67% good, and 17% excellent, equal to last year. Second cutting of alfalfa was 60% complete, behind 68% last year and the average of 69%.
• Wild hay conditions rated 0% very poor, 1% poor, 19% fair, 64% good, and 16% excellent, below 88% good to excellent last year but above the average of 70%. Wild hay harvested was 62% complete, ahead of 54% last year.
• Pasture and range conditions rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 14% fair, 68% good, and 16% excellent, below last year’s 92% good to excellent but above the 62% average.

For more information or previous releases, go to http://www.nass.usda.gov/ne/

News Release, Nebraska Field Office
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service