Warm, dry weather continued to advance crop development across Nebraska last week, with 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. While progress was made in most major crops, many remain behind typical development benchmarks for early August. Soil moisture levels remained a concern, with topsoil moisture rated 4% very short, 24% short, 67% adequate, and 5% surplus, and subsoil moisture rated 7% very short, 27% short, 63% adequate, and 3% surplus. Pastures and later-planted fields are beginning to show signs of stress, and crops such as corn and soybean are struggling to catch up following early delays and persistent dry conditions in parts of the state.
Field Crops Report:
- Corn
- Silking reached 88% — behind 94% last year and 96% for the five-year average.
- Dough stage reached 40% — behind 42% last year and 49% for the five-year average.
- Dented was at 1% — close to 3% last year and 4% for the five-year average.
- Condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 17% fair, 55% good, and 24% excellent.
- Soybean
- Blooming progressed to 82% — behind 93% last year and 95% for the five-year average.
- Setting pods reached 57% — behind 65% last year and 70% for the five-year average.
- Condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 21% fair, 56% good, and 19% excellent.
- Sorghum
- Headed reached 56% — ahead of 54% last year but behind 61% for the five-year average.
- Coloring reached 5% — ahead of 3% last year and 2% for the five-year average.
- Condition rated 1% very poor, 1% poor, 20% fair, 46% good, and 32% excellent.
- Winter Wheat
- Harvest advanced to 92% — equal to last year and behind 97% for the five-year average.
- Oats
- Harvest reached 77% — behind 86% last year and 90% for the five-year average.
- Condition rated 16% very poor, 17% poor, 33% fair, 33% good, and 1% excellent.
- Dry Beans
- Blooming was at 65% — behind 72% for the five-year average and 55% last year.
- Setting pods reached 38% — just below 39% average and ahead of 36% last year.
- Condition rated 0% very poor, 1% poor, 24% fair, 43% good, and 32% excellent.
Pasture and Range Report:
- Pasture and range condition rated 4% very poor, 15% poor, 30% fair, 43% good, and 8% excellent.
