November 6, 2012

While winter wheat emergence improved from 74% last week to 83% this week, it still lagged behind the long-term average of 99% by this date.  Winter wheat condition was much below average at 19% very poor, 30% poor, 38% fair, 13% good to excellent, well below the average of 69% good to excellent.

Corn harvest was 97% complete, with some growers in western Nebraska still working to harvest lodged corn following a windstorm in mid-October, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Sorghum harvest was 94% complete.

Some dry bean fields were damaged by a freeze and have been harvested for livestock feed.

The soil moisture record indicated that both topsoil and subsoil dried slightly this week. Topsoil moisture was rated at very short, 69%; short, 24%; adequate, 7%; and surplus, 0%. Subsoil moisture was rated at 78% very short,19% short, 3% adequate,0% and surplus, .