July 11, 2008

Corn condition rated 2% very poor, 4% poor, 22% fair, 55% good, and 17% excellent, wellbelow last year's 81% good or excellent rating. Irrigatedfields improved to 69% good or excellent but were stillbelow last year. Dryland fields rated 78%, well above year agolevels. Only 1% of the corn had silked, well behind last year's 20% and the average of 11%.

Soybean condition rated 2% very poor, 4% poor, 20% fair, 62% good, and 12% excellent, below last year's 78% good or excellent condition. Soybeans blooming were 8%,behind last year's 30% and six days behind the 27% average.

Wheat condition rated 4% very poor, 8% poor, 27% fair, 52% good, and 9% excellent, above last year's 57% good or excellent rating. Wheat turning color was 96%, behind last year's 99% and the average of 98%. Wheat ripe was 32%, well behind last year's 69% and eight days behindthe average of 64%. Wheat harvested was 6%, wellbehind last year's 32% and ten days behind the 36% average.

Alfalfa condition rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 21% fair, 59% good, and 15% excellent, well above last year's 64% good or excellent condition. First cutting was 98% complete, behind last year and the average of 100%. Second cutting was 12% complete, behind last year and theaverage of 47%.

Oat condition rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 16% fair, 58% good, and 24% excellent, well above last year's 72% good or excellent condition. Oats headed was 95%, nearlast year's 99% and 97% average.

Sorghum condition rated 0% very poor, 3% poor, 30% fair, 59% good, and 8% excellent, well below last year's 76% good or excellent condition.

Dry bean condition rated 0% very poor, 5% poor, 43% fair, 52% good, and 0% excellent, well below last year's 79% good or excellent condition. Dry beans emerged was 96%, behind both last year and average of 99%. Bloominghad begun on a few fields.

Proso millet planted was 96%, behind last year's 100% butahead of the 94% average.

Wild hay condition rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 14% fair, 65% good, and 19% excellent, well above last year's 75% good or excellent condition.