Nebraska Crop Progress & Condition Statistics - June 21
Very Short Short Adequate Surplus
Topsoil Moisture .......: 22 24 43 11
Subsoil Moisture .......: 30 29 34 7
..... Last year Last week This week 5YrAve
Corn Emerged ............: 100 97 100 99
Corn Silking................: 1 na - -
Soybeans emerged .....: 95 92 97 95
Soybeans in bloom.....: 01 01 12 04
Sorghum planted ........: 90 84 89 95
Winter Wheat Harvested: 00 00 00 00
VP Poor Fair Good Excellent
Corn Condition Rating ...: 02 05 36 41 16
Soybean Condition Rating 01 06 34 43 16
Winter Wheat Condition .: 57 26 12 05 -
Pasture Conditions ..........: 45 28 21 6 -
Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report
Farmers had 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 21, 2026, which is 0.2 more days than last year. Topsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 21 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus.
Corn emerged reached 99 percent, which is unchanged from last year. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent.
Soybeans emerged reached 98 percent, which is 2 percentage points ahead of last year. Soybeans blooming reached 3 percent, which is 9 percentage points behind last year. Soybean condition rated 74 percent good to excellent.
Oats headed reached 87 percent, which is 8 percentage points ahead of last year. Oats condition rated 83 percent good to excellent.
Pasture condition rated 75 percent good to excellent.
USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report
The latest USDA NASS Crop Progress report showed U.S. corn and soybean conditions unchanged from the previous week.
Widespread rainfall has reduced drought and kept soil moisture high across the Corn Belt with generally good crop conditions, though flooding, severe weather, and upcoming heat remain key concerns.
CORN
-- Crop development: 97% of corn had emerged as of Sunday, steady with last year's pace and the five-year average. Corn silking was pegged at 5%, 1 percentage point ahead of last year's 4% and 2 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 3%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 68% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, steady with the previous week and 2 points below last year's 70%. Six percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, steady with the previous week and previous year.
SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: 93% of soybeans had emerged as of Sunday, 4 points ahead of last year's pace and 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 90%. Soybeans blooming was pegged at 9%, 2 points ahead of last year's 7% and 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 6%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 66% of soybeans that had emerged were in good-to-excellent condition, steady with the previous week and previous year.
WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Harvest moved ahead 15 percentage points last week to reach 40% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 22 points ahead of last year's 18% and 16 points ahead of the five-year average pace of 24%.
-- Crop condition: An estimated 26% of winter wheat was rated good to excellent as of June 21, down 1 point from 27% the previous week and 23 points below 49% a year ago, according to NASS.
SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop development: Sixteen percent of spring wheat was headed, 1 point ahead of last year's pace of 15% and steady with the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 54% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, down 1 point from 55% the previous week.
Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation Invests in Future Agriculture Educators with Seven Scholarships
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation has awarded seven Nebraska Agriculture Education Student Teaching Scholarships to students preparing for careers as agricultural educators.
The scholarship provides $1,500 to students during the semester of their student teaching experience. Recipients must be enrolled in an agricultural education teacher preparation program at a Nebraska college or university and be members of Nebraska Farm Bureau, either as student members or by belonging to a Nebraska Farm Bureau member family.
"These students have demonstrated a commitment to agriculture, education and serving others," said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. "Through this scholarship, we're investing in individuals who will help shape future generations of leaders and strengthen communities across Nebraska. We're proud to support them as they prepare to enter the classroom."
The students awarded the scholarships:
Keetyn Valentine of Butler County
Abigail Hodges of Otoe County
Avery Drohman of Lincoln County
Elizabeth Fetty of Logan County
Megan Kindschuh of Kearney/Franklin Counties
Samuel Dierks of Adams County
Katherine Stephens of Phelps County
"Every agricultural education teacher has the opportunity to influence hundreds of students throughout their career," said Matt Kreifels, Ph.D., professor of practice in agricultural education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. "Whether students pursue careers in production agriculture, agribusiness, education or another field entirely, these teachers help them discover their strengths and connect them to opportunities. Supporting future educators is an investment in Nebraska's future workforce."
Future registered dietitians experience the beef lifecycle
Each year, Nebraska Beef Council partners with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and University of Nebraska Medical Center dietetic internship programs to provide future Registered Dietitians with a firsthand look at modern beef production. Through visits to Lienetics Ranch, Weber & Sons Co., and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Meat Science Department, students experience the complete beef lifecycle—from cattle production and animal care to harvest, food safety, nutrition, and consumer education. The goal is simple: help future nutrition professionals better understand how beef is raised and produced so they can provide accurate, science-based guidance to patients, clients, and consumers throughout their careers.
One of the most impactful stops of the day was at the UNL Meat Science Department, where students participated in a sensory evaluation exercise commonly used in meat science research. Students sampled four ground beef treatments that varied in lean-to-fat composition and evaluated each sample based on taste preference, enjoyment, and willingness to purchase. The activity demonstrated how factors such as flavor, juiciness, and overall eating experience influence consumer purchasing decisions. It also reinforced an important lesson for future dietitians: nutrition recommendations are most effective when they account for both nutritional value and the real-world preferences that drive food choices.
By connecting classroom nutrition education with real-world agricultural experiences, these tours help bridge the gap between food production and public understanding. As future healthcare professionals, dietitians play an important role in helping consumers navigate nutrition information. Providing them with firsthand exposure to beef production, food safety systems, meat science, and the people who raise cattle helps ensure they are equipped with a broader understanding of the food system and the role beef can play as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Naig Launches Greater Des Moines Watershed Program, Announces Enhanced Cover Crop Cost-Share in 22 Counties
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the launch of the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program, a targeted initiative to accelerate and scale up the use of conservation practices across 22 counties upstream from the Des Moines metro. The program was created as part of the Farm to Faucet water quality package signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds on June 1. It will support a series of conservation incentives, cost-share and targeted investments to improve water quality upstream and downstream.
The first phase of the program enhances cover crop incentives for farmers and landowners in the Greater Des Moines watershed, increasing cost-share payments for both new and existing cover crop users to $25 per acre and increasing the maximum eligible acreage to 500 acres per farmer or landowner. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is investing an additional $2.5 million in this program with the goal of doubling cover crop adoption across the watershed. Counties with the expanded cost-share include Audubon, Boone, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Clay, Dallas, Dickinson, Emmet, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Polk, Sac, Webster, Winnebago and Wright.
Today's announcement is the first of several conservation initiatives that will be rolled out through the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program in the coming weeks.
“Improving water quality requires a system-wide approach from the farm to the faucet, and farmers continue to step up by implementing proven conservation practices on their farms. Cover crops are one of the most effective tools we have to keep soil and nutrients in the field, improve soil health, and protect water quality. That's why we're increasing incentives and making it easier for farmers and landowners to participate,” said Secretary Naig. “This is the first of several conservation investments that will be announced through the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program in the weeks ahead. These targeted conservation efforts upstream complement the infrastructure investments that are also being made downstream. Farmers and landowners can get signed up now by stopping in their USDA Service Center, or they can learn more at CleanWaterIowa.org.”
As part of the program, both new and existing cover crop users within the eligible counties may receive cost-share assistance of up to $25 per acre and enroll up to 500 acres. Cover crops are one of Iowa’s most effective conservation practices for improving water quality while also delivering agronomic benefits to farmers. They help reduce soil erosion, improve water infiltration, build soil organic matter, suppress weeds, provide livestock forage opportunities, and keep nutrients in the field and out of nearby waterways.
Implementing the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy
Farmers are using proven conservation practices outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, including cover crops and wetlands, to prevent soil erosion, filter nitrates and improve water quality. It is part of their commitment to using responsible farming practices to benefit their communities and the environment. There’s more work to do but Iowa farmers are accelerating the pace at which they’re adopting conservation practices.
The State of Iowa invests nearly $100 million annually towards improving water quality, with an additional $500 million coming from the federal government each year.
In 2024, Iowa farmers planted nearly 4 million acres of cover crops, up from fewer than 400,000 just a decade ago. Farmers are also building more water quality wetlands, which capture water as it leaves the field, reducing nitrate runoff by up to 90 percent. Over 150 wetlands have been constructed statewide, and the pace is accelerating; nearly three times as many wetlands have been built in the past four years compared to the previous two decades.
In addition, farmers have installed nearly 500 nitrate-filtering buffers along field edges, all of which capture and treat water before it reaches streams, and these practices have been installed about five times faster in the past four years than in the previous decade.
ISU to Host Hay Day Educational Event in Boone
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the ISU Digital Ag Innovation Lab will host the ISU Hay Day, an educational event for hay producers, at no cost. The event will take place on Monday, July 13, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Field Extension Education Laboratory in Boone.
The event is designed to help hay producers improve the health of their fields and the reliability of their equipment.
Morning programming will focus on plant health and alfalfa stand management, including how to evaluate stand productivity, assess pest pressures and avoid common planting mistakes. Attendees will also explore the practical use of unmanned aerial vehicles for monitoring field health.
After a provided lunch, presenters will discuss baler maintenance, including a review of UAV imagery collected in the morning, to keep plants and equipment performing at their best.
“Knowing your equipment is invaluable to keeping it running well,” said Luke Fuhrer, precision ag engineer with the ISU Digital Ag Innovation Lab. “When you make hay, this equipment is run multiple times throughout the year — that kind of use demands regular attention and maintenance to avoid costly downtime during the season.”
Walk-ins are welcome, but advance registration is encouraged to assist with lunch planning https://go.iastate.edu/AOPWQ0. There is no cost to attend. For more information, contact Shelby Gruss at sgruss@iastate.edu or 515-294-3832.
Study: USMCA Helped Lower Food Prices
A study commissioned by the Agricultural Coalition for USMCA showed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement – and its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement – helped lower U.S. food prices over the past 20 years and could keep groceries affordable going forward.
Conducted by Purdue University, the study found tariff reductions under NAFTA, then USMCA generated an estimated savings of about $700 a year – in today’s dollars – or 7% of total food expenditures per household.
It also showed how expanded North American trade improved the efficiency and stability of agricultural supply chains and benefited U.S. agricultural sectors that rely on exports, such as pork, and experienced lower domestic prices as trade barriers were lifted.
The three USMCA signatories are in the process of reviewing the trade deal, and by July 1, must agree to renew it for 16 years, terminate it, or let it continue, with annual reviews, until 2036. President Trump has indicated the United States won’t renew the agreement.
The U.S. and Mexico this week held bilateral negotiations on agriculture issues. The two countries will meet again in July in Mexico City.
Swine Health Advisory Committee Sets Five Focus Areas
Pork producers need a swine health strategy that actually works on the farm. The Swine Health advisory committee of the National Pork Board was created to make sure that happens.
For the inaugural meeting in May, the advisory committee’s twenty-seven producers, veterinarians, USDA staff and packers/processors met in Des Moines and left with a clear direction: build on what’s working and accelerate action. The National Swine Health Strategy (NSHS) only succeeds if it reflects producers’ needs, and the advisory committee is responsible for ensuring it delivers.
The advisory committee identified five focus areas to drive measurable progress in swine health.
The Top 5 Focus Areas Driving Progress
Build Industry Buy-In for the NSHS
First, the committee will secure broad industry support for the NSHS. That means engaging state pork associations, industry organizations and producers directly to build support, strengthen participation, and ensure the strategy reflects actual needs on the farm.
Advance PEDV Elimination Framework
Accelerating progress toward a national PEDV elimination framework is a critical step outlined by the advisory committee. The team will identify practical next steps, address industry barriers, and dive deeper into transportation sanitation and the status of PEDV vaccine technology. Economic and feasibility analyses are also being prioritized to help producers weigh adoption decisions.
Advance PRRSV Elimination Framework
The current Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) framework needs an upgrade. The NPB swine health team will collaborate with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and other organizations to begin modernizing the national PRRSV elimination framework with practical actions producers can implement.
Get Serious about Transportation Biosecurity
The NPB swine health team will define what effective truck wash sanitation looks like, the current adoption of market haul sanitation, and how to scale it across the industry.
Make Site Health Status Data Work Harder for Producers
Producers need health data that works for them, and that starts with more transparency across systems. The team is exploring new functions in AgView® to support site status sharing, while also developing clearer guidance on disease-positive populations, movement decisions, and on-farm biocontainment.
Your Swine Health Team Is Already Delivering
NPB’s swine health team is prioritizing PEDV as a first step in disease elimination efforts. Why start with PEDV? The framework is already well developed, creating an opportunity for the industry to achieve meaningful progress faster.
Additionally, the work, data, and lessons gained through this focus on PEDV will help inform future PRRSV elimination efforts and support better strategies to reduce disease spread across the U.S. swine industry.
Clear Direction and a Sense of Urgency
The May meeting brought candid conversation, strong engagement, and a clear sense of urgency. “The discussion reinforced both the urgency of improving swine health and the opportunity we have to make meaningful progress for U.S. pork producers. The direction is clear and our focus now is turning that direction into action,” said Paul Ayers, Swine Health advisory committee chairman.
Conversations centered on aligning around shared goals for the NSHS and recognizing that broad industry endorsement will ultimately determine its success. Over the course of the year, the committee is responsible for identifying what’s working, where gaps remain, and where the industry should focus next.
“I’m excited to work alongside this group of engaged producers who are stepping up to share their time and expertise to strengthen swine health across the industry,” said Dr. Dusty Oedekoven, NPB Chief Veterinarian.
Turning Strategy into Action
Swine health is not a talking point; it’s producers’ bottom line.
Progress starts on the farm, but lasting change only happens when the entire industry moves together. The Pork Checkoff is committed to giving you the research, tools and support to make that happen.
The committee has set the direction. Now the work shifts to execution. Over the next 90 days, the NPB swine health team is committed to delivering meaningful progress on these focus areas.
NMPF Dairy Market Report - June 2026
U.S. milk production grew 2.9% in April on a component basis, as producers added more cows to the milking herd to take advantage of returns from beef-on-dairy and productivity increased. Strong milk production has translated into ample cheese and butter production, limiting price upside. Solid domestic sales and surging exports for those two product categories have kept prices relatively balanced, despite low consumer confidence.
On the protein side of the question, prices remain historically firm as nonfat dry milk (NFDM) and whey protein concentrate (WPC) supplies remain hard to come by. However, at time of writing, NFDM prices are returning to earth as additional supply and loss of export sales pull U.S. prices back towards parity with Oceania and Europe.
The Dairy Margin Coverage Program Margin for April improved to $10.54/cwt, boosted by an elevated All-Milk Price, reflecting NFDM hitting record highs. Yet the improved margin disguises the increase in input costs, which aren’t built into the feed calculation. High oil prices and inflation also affected producers, with electricity prices climbing 7% and diesel rising 50% over the past year. Although falling NFDM prices may impact the All-Milk Price, easing corn and soybean meal futures are anticipated to keep DMC margins above the $9.50/cwt payment threshold throughout 2026.
View Full Report - https://www.nmpf.org/dairy-demand-resilient-despite-mounting-economic-pressure-on-consumers/
Latest Look from Cattle on Feed, USDA APHIS NW Screwworm Dashboard, and Meat Demand
Glynn T. Tonsor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University
Hopefully, this finds readers following a blessed Father’s Day. As 2026 proceeds, there is no shortage of issues to monitor in the broader beef-cattle complex. There are three updates on the broader beef-cattle complex worth noting here.
First, the latest USDA NASS Cattle on Feed report published last week presented a mixed set of signals to the marketplace that likely is net neutral in impact. While May 1st inventories (+2%) are in line with pre-report expectations, placements in May were down 10% (versus an average expected decline of 6%), and marketings in May were down 12% (versus an average expected decline of 11%). On balance, these estimates align with ongoing efforts by feeders to “stretch in-hand cattle” over more days and make use of what are widely regarded as limited placement prospects. This also warrants a prudent reminder that measuring beef production, not just live animal head count, is critical for supply assessment.
Meanwhile, the last official New World Screwworm case reported by USDA APHIS (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/current-status/us-confirmed-cases-new-world ) was on June 12th. While this situation is bound to evolve, it is nice to see limited reported cases in recent days. What is perhaps comparatively overlooked, but critically important to appreciate, is the lack of a food safety concern and hence the reasonable expectation that NW Screwworm developments will not directly have an impact on consumer beef demand.
This brings us to the third and perhaps most economically important update – consumer frustrations with their finances continue to grow by a larger subset of the U.S. population. Specifically, the latest Meat Demand Monitor (MDM) base report (https://www.agmanager.info/livestock-meat/meat-demand/monthly-meat-demand-monitor-survey-data/meat-demand-monitor-may-2026) notes 39% of U.S. residents indicate their household finances are worse than in May of 2025 – the highest on record for May since the MDM series launched in 2020. This corresponds with weaker beef demand per the MDM for the month of May and is a cautionary point regarding the broader risk at hand to beef demand’s historically strong run that truly has been the largest economic force underpinning cattle and beef prices.
Indeed, there is no shortage of issues to continue monitoring this summer. Moving past Father’s Day, I hope we can be better at appreciating the special ones in our lives, as well as the myriad of forces that impact the industry’s economic viability.
