Final 2012 Weekly Crop Report - November 26

LAST WEEKLY WEATHER & CROPS FOR 2012
Dean C. Groskurth, Director
This is the last Weekly Weather and Crops report for the 2012 growing season. We would like to extend our appreciation to the dedicated county FSA and extension staff who supplied the necessary information for these reports. For December through March, we will issue monthly reports. Weekly reports will begin April 7th for the 2013 season.



Half of Nebraska Winter Wheat Rated Poor/Very Poor

Agricultural  Summary: 
For  the  week  ending  November 25, 2012, much field work was completed with the above  normal  temperatures  and  virtually  no  precipitation, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska  Field Office.    Field  activities  included  fall  tillage, fertilizer  and  herbicide  applications,  and  conservation  work with  soil  temperatures  averaging  in  the  mid  40’s.    Winter wheat  continues  being  stressed by  the ongoing drought, with near  half  of  the  crop  in  poor  or  very  poor  condition.  Emergence lags average with thin and spotty stands reported.  

Weather Summary: 
Average  temperatures across  the  state ranged  from  5  degrees  above  normal  in  the  Northeast  to  10 degrees above normal in the Panhandle.  Highs reached the mid 70’s  and  lows were  in  the  teens.    Statewide,  little or no precipitation was recorded with only trace amounts reported in the Northwest and North Central District border counties.  

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat emerged was 95 percent, behind  100 percent  last  year  and  average.  Wheat  conditions rated  15  percent  very  poor,  31  poor,  40  fair,  and 14 good, well below 75 percent good to excellent last year and 64 average.



Current Weather & Crops County Comments
Survey Date: 11/25/2012

DIXON
Most of the producer activities are centered around livestock, some fall tillage and chemical application, and financial planning for the end of the year.

DODGE
Fertilizer and lime being applied to cropland fields. Cattle continue to graze stalks. Also a lot of fall tillage is being done.

DOUGLAS
Fall tillage is occurring.

KNOX
The only wheat that has emerged is irrigated. Cattle continue to be on stalks. Conditions continue to be very dry.

NEMAHA
Conditions have remained dry. Temperatures were closer to normal than the past month. Several people are still applying anhydrous ammonia fertilizer, lime, dry fertilizer, herbicides and doing conservation work, i.e. terraces and tiling.

OTOE
The mild weather and early harvest conditions have led to lots of field work being completed.

SARPY
Fall tillage is occurring.

SAUNDERS
Finishing up anhydrous applications, applying herbicide for winter annual weed control, removing trees from fence lines and creek bottoms, and pasturing cattle on stalks.



Iowa Farmers Push to Finish Fertilizing Before Freeze-up

Iowa’s soil moisture continues to be a concern as  the state experienced another dry week.  Farmers have been eager to finish applying fertilizer to  their  soil  before  hard  freezing  temperatures  occur  according  to USDA’s  National  Agricultural  Statistics  Service,  Iowa  Field  Office. Other field activities included fall tillage and tile installation.

There  were  6.7  days  suitable  for  fieldwork  statewide  during  the  past week.  Topsoil  moisture  levels  declined  to  29  percent  very  short, 43 percent  short,  28  percent  adequate,  and  0  percent  surplus.  Subsoil moisture  is  rated  at 63 percent very  short, 31 percent  short, 6 percent adequate,  and  0  percent  surplus.  Grain  movement  continues  to  slow, with  just  17  percent  of  the  State  seeing  moderate  to  heavy  grain movement  from  farm  to  elevator.  Ninety-nine  percent  of  the  State reports adequate or surplus off-farm storage capacity and 98 percent of the State reports adequate or surplus on-farm storage capacity. 

Hay  supplies are  still  considered  short  across 41 percent of  Iowa with 37 percent of  the  hay  supply  considered  in  good  condition. Livestock conditions are normal. Few health problems have been reported.



USDA - NASS
Winter Wheat Emerged - Selected States
[These 18 States planted 88% of the 2011 winter wheat acreage]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :               Week ending               :            
                :-----------------------------------------:            
      State     :November 25, :November 18, :November 25, :  2007-2011 
                :    2011     :    2012     :    2012     :   Average  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                        percent                       
Arkansas .......:      89           84             94            80    
California .......:      61           35             55            49    
Colorado ........:      99           91             94            98    
Idaho .............:      99           95             97            98    
Illinois ............:      97           87             94            93    
Indiana ...........:      96           93             97            92    
Kansas ..........:      97           95             97            94    
Michigan ........:      99           98            100            99    
Missouri .........:      88           80             90            79    
Montana .........:      89           66             68            95    
Nebraska ........:     100          92             95           100    
North Carolina .:      58           30             45            52    
Ohio ...............:      87           90             94            95    
Oklahoma .......:      96           86             89            93    
Oregon ...........:      87           80             89            91    
South Dakota ..:     100          53             60           100    
Texas .............:      71           79             85            78    
Washington ....:      97           93             97            95    
18 States ......:       91           84             88            90    



Winter Wheat Condition - Selected States: Week Ending November 25, 2012
[National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2011 planted acreage]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      State     : Very poor :   Poor    :   Fair    :   Good    : Excellent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                          percent                         
Arkansas .......:     2           2          33          52          11    
California .......:     -           -           10          40           50    
Colorado ........:     8          26        48          18           -    
Idaho .............:     -           1          22          64          13    
Illinois ............:     -           5          26          65           4    
Indiana ...........:     -           1          27          53          19    
Kansas ..........:     6          19        46          28           1    
Michigan ........:     -           3          25          52           20    
Missouri .........:     -           3          44          48           5    
Montana .........:     2           7         62          27           2    
Nebraska ........:    15          31        40          14           -    
North Carolina .:     1           2          30          65           2    
Ohio ...............:     -           1          29          58          12    
Oklahoma .......:    12          32        42          13           1    
Oregon ...........:      -            -          39          60           1    
South Dakota ..:    24          40         34           2           -    
Texas .............:    12          28         39          18           3    
Washington ....:     -            3           30          56          11    
18 States .......:     7          19          41          29           4    
Previous week .:     5          19         42          30           4    
Previous year ..:     4           9          35          45           7    



Special Note

NASS's annual December surveys on crops and livestock. In the first two weeks of December, NASS will survey approximately 85,000 United States producers. One of USDA's largest survey efforts, the responses will provide the final information about the 2012 U.S. row crops focusing on harvested acreage, production, and storage. In addition, hog producers will be asked about their current inventory, pig crop, and farrowing intentions for the next six months. With both data collection and data release taking place over a span of only four weeks, the results will be available beginning with the Hogs and Pigs report on December 28, followed by the Annual Crop Production Summary and other reports on January 11. Farmers should watch for their survey and be sure to respond. Your information matters!