Nebraska Crop Progress: Rain Improves Soil Moisture as Harvest Advances

Wetter conditions improved soil moisture across Nebraska but reduced fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 20, as corn and soybean harvests began slightly ahead of last year but remained behind their five-year averages. Producers had 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork, down nearly two days from the previous week.

Corn harvest reached 7%, with 54% of the crop mature, while soybean harvest reached 3% and 60% of the crop was dropping leaves. Winter wheat planting remained well behind average at 22%, and pasture and range conditions continued to reflect moisture stress, with 57% rated poor or very poor.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 14% very short, 29% short, 53% adequate and 4% surplus, while subsoil moisture rated 24% very short, 30% short, 45% adequate and 1% surplus. 

Field Crops Report:

Corn

• Dented: 94% — ahead of 87% last year and 93% for the five-year average.
• Mature: 54% — ahead of 44% last year but behind 56% for the five-year average.
• Harvested: 7% — ahead of 5% last year but behind 8% for the five-year average. 
• Condition: 7% very poor, 11% poor, 30% fair, 38% good, 14% excellent.

Soybean

• Dropping leaves: 60% — ahead of 57% last year but behind 69% for the five-year average.
• Harvested: 3% — ahead of 2% last year but behind 6% for the five-year average. 
• Condition: 3% very poor, 8% poor, 25% fair, 49% good, 15% excellent.

Winter Wheat

• Planted: 22% — behind 32% last year and 35% for the five-year average.
• Emerged: 4% — behind 5% last year and 7% for the five-year average.

Sorghum

• Coloring: 84% — equal to last year but behind 93% for the five-year average.
• Mature: 40% — ahead of 25% last year and 32% for the five-year average.
• Harvested: 2% — behind 4% last year and near 3% for the five-year average. 
• Condition: 6% very poor, 18% poor, 41% fair, 29% good, 6% excellent.

Pasture and Range

• Condition: 32% very poor, 25% poor, 28% fair, 14% good, 1% 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.