September 29 Crop and Harvest Progress Reports - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS - CORN & SOYBEAN HARVEST RUNNING HALF OF AVERAGE PACE

For  the week ending September 28, 2014, above normal  temperatures accelerated the dry down of row crops as producers waited for grain moisture levels to decline, according to the USDA’s  National  Agricultural  Statistics  Service.   Rain  at  midweek  was  heaviest  in  central  counties  with amounts  limited  elsewhere. There  were  6.1  days  suitable  for  fieldwork.  Topsoil  moisture  supplies  rated  4 percent very short, 23 short, 70 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short,  25 short, 65 adequate, and 2 surplus.
 
Field Crops Report:
Corn  conditions  rated  2  percent  very  poor,  6  poor,  19  fair,  51  good,  and  22  excellent.    Corn  dented  was  97  percent,  near  99  for  both  last  year  and  the  average. Corn mature was  63  percent,  near  60  last  year  and 66 average. Corn harvested was 7 percent, near 8 last year, but behind 16 average.

Soybean conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 20 fair, 54 good, and 20 excellent.   Soybeans dropping leaves was  76  percent,  behind  82  last  year,  but  near  77  average.  Soybeans  harvested was  6  percent,  behind 12 last year and 17 average.

Sorghum conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 32 fair, 39 good, and 22 excellent. Sorghum coloring was 97 percent, near 99  last year, but ahead of 93 average. Sorghum mature was 60 percent, ahead of 46  last year and 43 average. Sorghum harvested was 2 percent, equal to last year and near 4 average.

Alfalfa hay conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 29 fair, 52 good, and 12 excellent.  Alfalfa hay fourth cutting was 77 percent complete, near 73 last year and 79 average.

Winter wheat  planted was  78  percent,  ahead  of  63  last  year  and  68  for  the  five-year average. Winter wheat emerged was 43 percent, ahead of 26 last year and 31 average.
 
Livestock,  Pasture  and  Range  Report: 
Pasture  and  range  conditions  rated  6  percent  very  poor,  7  poor,  33 fair, 45 good, and 9 excellent.  Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 5 short, 92 adequate, and 2 surplus. 



Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg//2010s/2014/CropProg-09-29-2014.txt. 

Access  the  High  Plains  Region  Climate  Center  for  Temperature  and  Precipitation  Maps  at: http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/maps/current/index.php?action=update_region&state=NE&region=HPRCC. 

Access the U.S. Drought Monitor at: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE. 



IOWA CROP PROGRESS - CORN AND SOYBEAN HARVEST BEGIN

Above average temperatures pushed crops towards maturity during the week  ending September  28,  2014,  according  to  the USDA, National Agricultural  Statistics  Service.    There  were  5.3  days  suitable  for fieldwork.  Activities for  the week  included harvesting early corn and soybeans, chopping silage, and harvesting hay. 

Topsoil  moisture  rated  0 percent  very  short,  5 percent  short, 83 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus.  Subsoil moisture levels rated  1 percent  very  short,  8 percent  short,  82 percent  adequate,  and 9 percent surplus.  Southwest Iowa was the wettest with over one-third of its topsoil in surplus condition.

Ninety-six  percent  of  Iowa’s  corn  crop  was  in  or  beyond  the  dent stage. Corn mature  reached 58 percent,  surpassing  last  year, but  still 8 days behind normal.   Corn harvest has begun across  the State, with 76  percent  of  the  acreage  reported  in  good  to  excellent  condition. 

Leaves were turning color on 94 percent of the soybean crop, equal to the five-year average for this stage for the first time this season.  Sixty-five percent of  the soybean acreage was dropping  leaves,  still 3 days behind normal.   Soybean harvest was underway and 74 percent of  the acreage was in good to excellent condition.

The  third  cutting  of  alfalfa  hay was  91 percent  complete,  just  over 2 weeks  behind  both  2013  and  average.   Pasture  condition  rated 67 percent good  to excellent.   Little stress on  livestock was observed.  High manure levels have been reported in some pits and lagoons.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Soybean harvest increased by 7 percentage points and corn harvest rose 5 percentage points in the week ended Sept. 28, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report.  Ten percent of the nation's soybeans are in the bin, compared to 3% last week and a 17% five-year average.

Twelve percent of the corn crop is harvested, compared to 7% last week and a 23% five-year average. Forty percent of U.S. corn still is not mature.

Winter wheat is 43% planted and 14% emerged, compared to five-year averages of 36% and 12%, respectively. Spring wheat harvest is nearly complete at 94% complete.