November 17 NE-IA-US Harvest Progress - South American Planing Progress Reports

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending November 16, 2014, unseasonably cold conditions engulfed the state with snow late in the period slowing final harvest activities, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Temperatures averaged 15 to 20 degrees below normal. Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches were common across the eastern half of the state with larger amounts in northern areas. Livestock producers worked to get animals in protected areas as the cold temperatures arrived. There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 7 percent very short, 31 short, 61 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 30 short, 61 adequate, and1 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn harvested was 91 percent, near 90 last year and 87 for the five-year average.

Sorghum harvested was 93 percent, near 96 last year, but ahead of 87 average.

Winter wheat conditions rated 0 very poor, 2 poor, 20 fair, 69 good, and 9 excellent.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 5 poor, 32 fair, 54 good, and 5 excellent.  Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 7 short, 91 adequate, and 1 surplus.


Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg//2010s/2014/CropProg-11-17-2014.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

Iowa farmers used the 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork to harvest one tenth of the state’s corn crop during the week ending November 16, 2014, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Cold temperatures and snow halted most other activities during the week, but some corn stalks were baled, and manure hauled.  Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 88 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus.

Ninety-two percent of Iowa’s corn acreage was harvested, equal to 2013 but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. This was the first time this season that corn harvest was ahead of the normal pace. Corn harvest in south central Iowa continued to trail behind the rest of the state with only 79 percent complete. Soybean harvest was nearing completion with 98 percent of the acreage harvested.

Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 48 percent moderate to heavy, dropping 12 percentage points from the previous week. Off farm grain storage availability was rated at 84 percent adequate to surplus. On-farm grain storage availability was 79 percent adequate to surplus.

Hay and roughage supplies were estimated at 97 percent adequate to surplus. Cold and snowy conditions tested livestock, and some farmers have started to feed hay.



IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist
Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

It was a snowy and very cold week across Iowa. The week began with wild weather on Sunday (9th) with highs in the 40’s and 50’s and some very light rain showers across far northern Iowa. A strong cold front moved across the state on Monday (10th) bringing widespread light snowfall. Highs on Monday were only in the low 30’s over the far northwest while ahead of the front temperatures reached 72 degrees at Keosauqua. Daytime high temperatures were mostly in the twenties for the remainder of the week although north central Iowa reached only the mid-teens for highs on Saturday. The lowest temperature so far this season was set at Sibley on Wednesday (12th) morning at 7 degrees. However, readings fell much lower on Friday (14th) morning with Little Sioux down to minus 2 degrees and colder yet on Sunday (16th) morning with minus 8 degrees at Sioux Center, Sheldon and Lake Okoboji. Sunday morning’s temperatures were the lowest recorded in Iowa for so early in the season since 1991 when Hawarden recorded -19 degrees on November 7. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 11.5 degrees below normal. Meanwhile, snow fell statewide on Monday into Tuesday morning with greatest amounts of an inch or two across north central Iowa. Snow flurries were common statewide on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday was dry.  Snow began Saturday (15 th) morning across northwest Iowa and spread statewide by the end of the day.  Greatest snow accumulations were across northwest Iowa with 5.5 inches at Ringsted in Emmet County. An inch or more snow accumulated across all but extreme southeast edge of the state. The statewide average precipitation (rain and the liquid equivalent of the snowfall) for the week was 0.19 inches while normal is 0.49 inches. Precipitation totals varied from 0.03 inches at Keokuk to 0.40 inches at Lester (Lyon County). As of Sunday (16th) soils were frozen to a depth of two to four inches below the surface.



U.S. Harvest Edges to Finish Line

The closer we get to the "end" of harvest, the slower and smaller the percentage increases in the complete category seem to come.  In the last week, corn harvest increased 9 percentage points to 89% complete and soybean harvest increased 4 points to 94% complete, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress report. Those totals compare to five-year averages of 88% and 96%.

Winter wheat is 95% planted and 87% emerged, compared to 93% and 83% last week and five-year averages of 97% and 84%. Winter wheat condition was steady, with the good-to-excellent rating of 60%. 



Brazil Soy Planting Catches Up

Brazilian soybean planting moved forward quickly again last week, allowing field work to almost catch up with the normal schedule, according to AgRural, a local farm consultancy.  Planting of the 2014-15 crop was 63% complete as of Friday, up 17 percentage points from the week before and now only six points behind planting at the same stage of last year, said the consultancy.

Planting in Mato Grosso, the top soy state, progressed particularly quickly, jumping 20 points in the week to reach 82% complete. That's now only nine points behind last year.

Planting also progressed across the southern grain belt. In Parana, the No. 2 soy state, planting reached 76%, up from 62% last week but back from the 84% registered at the same point last year.

Planting is ahead of schedule in Rio Grande do Sul, the No. 3 soy state, where 45% is in the ground compared with 34% last week and 33% last year. Up to now, soil moisture conditions have been excellent, aiding germination.

For the next week, rains are forecast across most of the Brazilian soybean belt with the exception of Rio Grande do Sul, according to Somar Meteorologia, a local weather service.  Key parts of Mato Grosso, Goias and Mato Grosso do Sul will receive the heaviest showers, it said.