NE IA US Crop Progress & Condition Reports

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending April 5, 2015, temperatures averaged six to eight degrees above normal across much of the State, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Rainfall of up to an inch fell in east central and southeastern areas of Nebraska with lesser amounts across the southwest and southern Panhandle counties. Much of the northern third of the State remained dry. Range fireswere reported in some western counties. Concerns increased over winter wheat and pastures needing rain. Producers continued preparation for spring planting. There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 17 percent very short, 36 short, 46 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 14 percent very short, 30 short, 55 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 11 percent very poor, 19 poor, 36 fair, 31 good, and 3 excellent.  Oats planted was at 44 percent, well ahead of 6 last year and the five-year average of 26.

Livestock Report:
Cattle and calf conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 14 fair, 72 good, and 13 excellent. Cattle and calf death loss rated 0 percent heavy, 65 average, and 35 light. Sheep and lamb conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 15 fair, 73 good, and 12 excellent. Sheep and lamb death loss rated 0 percent heavy, 67 average, and 33 light. Hay and roughage supplies rated 2 percent very short, 7 short, 88 adequate, and 3 surplus.  Stock water supplies rated 3 percent very short, 13 short, 83 adequate, and 1 surplus.



Iowa Crop Progress & Condition
For the week ending April 5, 2015

Warm temperatures and mostly dry conditions over much of the State allowed farmers to continue anhydrous applications and tillage activities during the week ending April 5, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. However, reports of lingering frost in northern Iowa fields were received. Anhydrous supply issues were reported in areas of Southwest Iowa. Statewide there were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork. East central and southeastern Iowa were the only two districts in the State that averaged over 5 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 25 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 24 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus, significantly higher than 2014 percentage when two-thirds of Iowa reported short to very short subsoil moisture.

Seventeen percent of oats have been planted, 4 days ahead of last year, but 4 days behind the 5-year average.

Pasture condition rated 4 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 48 percent fair, 30 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Livestock conditions were described as average, with the mostly dry weather aiding calving and lambing conditions in the State.



First Weekly USDA Crop Progress & Condition Report of the Season

The first weekly Crop Progress and Conditions reports for 2015 show sorghum, rice and cotton planting rates are slower than average and condition ratings for winter wheat are worse than late November 2014 ratings, but not as bad as the ratings in April of 2014.

Winter wheat is 16% poor to very poor, compared to 6% the last week of November 2014 and 29% in April of last year. Forty-four percent of winter wheat is rated good to excellent, compared to 58% at the end of November and 35% last year in April.

Cotton is 2% planted nationwide, compared to 6% last year and a 6% five-year average. Rice planting is 14% complete, compared to 14% last year and an 18% five-year average. Rice is 3% emerged.

Sorghum planting is 9% complete, compared to 11% last year and a 15% five-year average.