September 4, 2013

 

The most recent DroughtMonitor.unl.edu map indicated a slight worsening in several drought areas of Nebraska, although the overall drought area was similar to the previous week. For more information on drought in Nebraska see UNL's DroughtResources.unl.edu.

 With limited rain and temperatures well above normal dryland crops and pasture were under stress last week. On Tuesday the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that topsoil moisture was 64% very short to short and 36% adequate and subsoil moisture was 74% very short to short and 26% adequate. During the week there were Isolated rains, but nothing widespread.

Crop Condition

All corn condition rated 6% very poor, 8% poor, 22% fair, 45% good, and 19% excellent. Irrigated corn conditions rated 82% good or excellent, compared to 75% average. Dryland corn conditions rated 39% good or excellent, compared to 58% average. Corn in dough was 93%, behind 100% last year but near the average of 95%. Corn dented was 51%, behind 91% last year and the average of 70%. Only 1% of the corn crop was mature, behind 34% last year and the average of 9%.

Soybean conditions rated 3% very poor, 8% poor, 23% fair, 52% good, and 14% excellent. Ninety-eight percent of the crop was setting pods, near last year's 99% and equal to the average of 98%. Soybeans dropping leaves were 4%, behind 6% last year but slightly ahead of the 2% average.

Sorghum conditions rated 11% very poor, 19% poor, 30% fair, 37% good, and 3% excellent. Ninety-seven percent of the sorghum had headed, ahead of 87% last year but near the average of 96%. Sorghum turning color was 34%, ahead of 27% last year but behind the 39% average.

Proso millet was 14% harvested, ahead of 8% last year and the 5% average.

Dry bean conditions rated 0% very poor, 2% poor, 14% fair, 71% good, and 13% excellent. Dry beans dropping leaves were 37%, ahead of the 15% last year and 16% average.

Alfalfa conditions were 7% very poor, 13% poor, 29% fair, 44% good, and 7% excellent. The third cutting of alfalfa was 85% complete, behind 98% last year but near 87% average. The fourth cutting of alfalfa was 6% complete, behind 43% last year and the average of 18%.

Pasture and range condition was 16% very poor, 22% poor, 33% fair, 28% good, and 1% excellent.