September 7, 2007

Corn conditions rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 18% fair, 50% good, and 27% excellent, well above last year's 56% good or excellent rating, according to the Sept. 4 report from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Irrigated fields rated 86% good or excellent while dryland fields rated 67%, both above year ago levels. Corn in the dough stage was 97%, behind last year's 98% but ahead of the 96% average. Corn in the dent stage was 80%, behind last year's 84% but ahead of the 73% average. Corn mature was 10%, behind the 15% of last year and even with the five year average.

Soybean conditions rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 19% fair, 54% good, and 23% excellent, well above last year's 58% good or excellent condition. Soybeans turning color was 17%, behind last year's 27% and 28% average. Soybeans dropping leaves was 1%, behind last year's 3% and 5% average.

Alfalfa conditions rated 4% very poor, 12% poor, 22% fair, 48% good, and 14% excellent, well above last year's 31% good or excellent condition. Third cutting was 85% complete, behind last year's 94% and 90% average. Fourth cutting was 11% complete, behind last year's 15% and even with the five year average.

Sorghum conditions rated 1% very poor, 1% poor, 13% fair, 53% good, and 32% excellent, well above last year's 56% good or excellent condition. Sorghum turning color was 65%, behind last year's 67% but ahead of the 53% average. Sorghum mature was 2%, near last year's 3% and even with the five year average.

Dry bean conditions rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 24% fair, 68% good, and 5% excellent, above last year's 63% good or excellent condition. Dry beans setting pods were 95%, behind last year's 100% and 97% average. Dry beans turning color was 55%, behind last year's 66% but ahead of the 47 average. Dry beans dropping leaves was 17%, behind last year's 27% and 22% average. Dry beans harvested were 1%, behind last year's 3% and 4 %average.

Wheat seeded was 6% complete, ahead of last year's 5% and 4% average. Proso millet was 7% harvested, ahead of last year's 4% but behind the 12% average.

Nebraska Field Office
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service