Corn and soybean development remained near or ahead of average, winter wheat harvest moved past the halfway mark, and oat harvest continued to outpace the five-year average during the week ending July 19. Dry weather also allowed Nebraska farmers 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork.
Soil moisture declined from the previous week as dry conditions persisted across much of the state. As of July 19, 2026, topsoil moisture supplies rated 26% very short, 39% short, 34% adequate and 1% surplus, while subsoil moisture rated 33% very short, 38% short, 28% adequate and 1% surplus.
Field Crops Report:
Corn
- Silking: 60% — ahead of 52% last year and 59% for the five-year average.
- Dough: 6% — behind 9% last year and 8% for the five-year average.
- Condition: 2% very poor, 7% poor, 26% fair, 42% good, 23% excellent.
Soybean
- Blooming: 69% — ahead of 58% last year and 68% for the five-year average.
- Setting Pods: 23% — ahead of 15% last year but behind 25% for the five-year average.
- Condition: 1% very poor, 6% poor, 25% fair, 44% good, 24% excellent.
Sorghum
- Headed: 16% — ahead of 14% last year and 11% for the five-year average.
- Coloring: 1% — equal to 1% last year and ahead of 0% for the five-year average.
- Condition: 0% very poor, 3% poor, 46% fair, 47% good, 4% excellent.
Winter Wheat
- Harvest: 59% — ahead of 45% last year and 58% for the five-year average.
Oats
- Headed: 94% — behind 97% last year and 99% for the five-year average.
- Harvested: 53% — ahead of 47% last year and 40% for the five-year average.
- Condition: 14% very poor, 38% poor, 36% fair, 11% good, 1% excellent.
Pasture and Range:
- Condition: 35% very poor, 33% poor, 24% fair, 8% good, 0% excellent.
Data for this news release were provided at the county level by USDA Farm Service Agency, Nebraska Extension, and other reporters across the state.
