November 1, 2012

Below normal temperatures, high winds, and precipitation slowed harvest last week and did little to aid wheat emergence, according to the Oct. 31 report from the Nebraska field office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Some areas of western Nebraska had snow accumulations of 3-4 inches, while rainfall was less than 1/2 in the remainder of the state. Temperatures averaged 4-8 degrees below normal, with lows dipping into the teens.

Crop Reports

• Corn harvest was 94% complete, well ahead of 66% last year and the average of 50%.
   
• Soybean harvest was 98% complete, near the 97% growers saw last year and ahead of the 85% long-term average.
   
• Winter wheat emergence was at 74%, well behind last year's 97% and the 93% average. Wheat conditions rated 20% very poor, 29% poor, 42% fair, 8% good, and 1% excellent, well below 79% good to excellent last year and 68% average.
   
• Sorghum harvested was 85% complete, ahead of 59% last year and 41% average.
   
• Proso millet harvest was 98% complete, near last year's 99% and ahead of the 92% average.
   
• Dry bean harvest was at 93 percent, behind last year's 100% last year and 99% average.
   
• Pasture and range conditions rated 77% very poor, 20% poor, 3% fair, 0% good or excellent, well below 68% good to excellent last year and the long-term average of 66%.