July 15, 2013

For the week ending July 14, dryland crop conditions declined due to above normal temperatures and limited rainfall, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Temperatures averaged 4 degrees above normal with irrigation in full swing. Wheat harvest was complete in southeast Nebraska and expected to gain momentum in Panhandle counties in the coming days. The second cutting of alfalfa was near 50% complete with excellent harvest conditions reported.

Topsoil moisture supplies declined and rated 17% very short, 45% short, 38% adequate, and 0% surplus. Statewide, subsoil moisture supplies also declined and rated 28% very short, 41% short, 31% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Corn all  conditions rated 2% very poor, 5% poor, 22% fair, 54% good, and 17% excellent. Irrigated corn conditions rated 81% good or excellent, compared to 78% average. Dryland corn conditions rated 57% good or excellent, compared to 69 average. Corn silking was 14% complete, behind 67% last year and 36% average.

Soybean conditions rated 2% very poor, 5% poor, 23% fair, 59% good, and 11% excellent. Thirty-nine percent of the crop was blooming, behind 60 last year but near 40% average. Two percent of the crop was setting pods, behind 12% last year but near 4% average.

Sorghum conditions rated 2% very poor, 13% poor, 33% fair, 30% good, and 22% excellent.

Wheat conditions rated 23% very poor, 24% poor, 33% fair, 18% good, and 2% excellent. Wheat turning color was 99%, behind 100% last year but equal to 99% average. Wheat ripe was 57%, well behind 100% last year and 71% average. Twenty-nine percent of the crop was harvested, well behind 96% last year and 42% average.

Oat conditions rated 5% very poor, 11% poor, 30% fair, 46% good, and 8% excellent. Oats harvested were 27%, compared to last year’s 88% and 31% average.

Dry bean conditions rated 0% very poor, 0% poor, 22% fair, 70% good, and 8% excellent. Dry beans blooming were 5%, behind 26% last year and 10% average.

Alfalfa conditions were 4% very poor, 10% poor, 35% fair, 46% good, and 5% excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 48% complete, behind last year’s 89% and 60% average.

Pasture and range condition was 12% very poor, 26% poor, 39% fair, 22% good, and 1% excellent. Hay and forage supplies rated 21% very short, 33% short, 46% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Data for this news release were provided at the county level by USDA Farm Service Agency and UNL Extension Service.
Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at:
http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg//2010s/2013/CropProg-07-15-2013.pdf

News Release
Nebraska Field Office, National Agricultural Statistics Service