Wheat Emergence Slow in Dry Soils; Corn and Soybean Harvest Half Done - UNL CropWatch, Oct. 2012

Wheat Emergence Slow in Dry Soils; Corn and Soybean Harvest Half Done - UNL CropWatch, Oct. 2012

October 1, 2012

For the week ending Sept. 30, fall harvest progressed across the state with limited rainfall. Corn harvest was over half complete and nearly one month ahead of average. Soybean harvest also neared the half-way point, but had been made more difficult by dry pods and green stems. Winter wheat seeding approached the two-thirds point, but fields had been slow to emerge due to dry soil conditions.

As of Sunday, 93% of the state's corn crop had reached maturity, well ahead of 68% last year and the long-term average of 67%. Corn harvested for grain was at 53%, compared to 10% last year and 29 days ahead of the 10% average. Corn conditions rated 22% very poor, 20% poor, 26% fair, 27% good, and 5% excellent, well below 74% good to excellent last year and the 78% average. Irrigated corn conditions rated 53% good to excellent and dryland corn rated 2% good to excellent.

Soybeans dropping leaves were 91%, compared to 69% last year and 79% average. Soybeans harvested were 48%, well ahead of 15% last year and 11 days ahead of the16% average. Soybean conditions rated 20% very poor, 28% poor, 33% fair, 17% good, and 2% excellent, well below last year’s 79% good to excellent and the average of 78%.

Winter wheat seeded was at 64%, behind both 77% last year and average. Sixteen percent of the the crop had emerged, well behind 46% last year and 41% average.

Proso millet harvest was 78% complete, ahead of 56% last year and 62% average.

Sorghum turning color was 84%, compared to 99% last year and 96% average. Fifty-one percent of the sorghum crop had matured, behind 63% last year but ahead of a 49% average. Sorghum harvest was 11% complete, ahead of 6% last year and 4% average. Sorghum conditions rated 13% very poor, 42% poor, 33% fair, 11% good, and 1% excellent, well below 74% good to excellent last year and 76%.

The fourth cutting of alfalfa was 87% complete, ahead of 85% last year and the average of 77%.

Dry beans dropping leaves were 96%, near 97% last year but ahead of 93% average. Dry beans harvested were 65%, behind 71% last year and 70% average. Dry bean conditions rated 2% very poor, 8% poor, 45% fair, 42% good, and 3% excellent.

Pasture and range conditions rated 77% very poor, 21% poor, 2% fair, 0% good to excellent, well below 68% good to excellent last year and average.

Nebraska Field Office, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

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