May 18 Crop Progress & Condition Report - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending May 17, 2015, precipitation during the last half of the week limited fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rainfall of one inch or more was common, except for portions of northeast and southwest Nebraska, which received lesser amounts.  Lowland flooding was again reported in southeastern counties where fieldwork was at a standstill. Temperatures were cool, averaging two to four degrees below normal. There were 2.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 10 short, 67 adequate, and 17 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 7 percent very short, 18 short, 65 adequate, and 10 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn planted was at 85 percent, near 89 last year and 87 for the five-year average. Emerged was at 54 percent, ahead of 39 last year and 40 average.

Sorghum planted was at 38 percent, ahead of 24 last year and 22 average. Emerged was at 2 percent, near 5 last year and 4 average.

Soybeans planted was at 41 percent, behind 61 last year and 51 average. Emerged was at 6 percent, behind 11 last year and 12 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 13 percent very poor, 18 poor, 32 fair, 34 good, and 3 excellent. Winter wheat jointed rated 93 percent complete, well ahead of 69 last year and 71 average. Headed was at 24 percent, ahead of 9 last year and 17 average.

Oats condition rated 2 percent very poor, 9 poor, 27 fair, 59 good, and 3 excellent. Oats emerged was at 95 percent, ahead of 88 last year and 86 average. Jointed was at 39 percent, ahead of 13 last year.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 5 percent very poor, 8 poor, 31 fair, 50 good, and 6 excellent.  Stock water supplies rated 3 percent very short, 9 short, 85 adequate, and 3 surplus.


Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg/2010s/2015/CropProg-05-18-2015.pdf.

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 AND CONDITION REPORT

Wet and windy conditions slowed planting for Iowa farmers during the week ending May 17, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were only 2.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Operators reported the wet weather led to standing water in some fields and the wind halted spraying activity.

Topsoil moisture increased slightly to 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels also increased and now stand at 1 percent very short, 8 percent  short, 83 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. North central and southwest Iowa reported the highest topsoil levels with 100 and 99 percent rated adequate to surplus, respectively. Southwest Iowa reported the highest subsoil moisture level at 99 percent rated adequate to surplus.

Ninety-two percent of the corn crop has been planted, 6 days ahead last year, and 5 days ahead of the 5-year average. Southwest Iowa is still lagging behind with just 75 percent planted, compared to northwest Iowa, where 98 percent of the corn was in the ground. Corn reached 63 percent emerged, just over one week ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal.

Soybean planting reached 51 percent complete, 3 days ahead of 2014, and 2 days ahead of the average. Only 17 percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted in southwest Iowa, with south central Iowa the next lowest at 40 percent complete.

With nearly all the State’s oat crop planted, oats emerged reached 92 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of normal. Oat condition ratings improved slightly with 81 percent rated good to excellent.

Limited progress has been made on the first cutting of alfalfa hay due to the cool, wet weather. Hay conditions now rate 80 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition also improved to 70 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as mostly normal with a majority of cattle being turned onto pasture. Some cattle lots were described as messy or muddy. Meanwhile, poultry producers across the State continue to discuss the effects of avian influenza.


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

The past week began with widespread light to moderate rain from Sunday (10th) afternoon into Monday (11th)morning. Tuesday (12th) was dry while rain moved back into western Iowa Wednesday (13th) night. Rain fell over most of the state on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the greatest amounts falling over west central and southwest Iowa. Finally, there were a few showers and thunderstorms on Sunday (17th). Rain totals for the week ranged from 0.45 inches at the Cedar Rapids Airport to 4.45 inches at the Audubon Airport. The statewide average precipitation was 1.32 inches while normal for the week is 1.05 inches. Meanwhile, cooler than normal weather prevailed from Monday through Thursday, with the coolest weather on Monday when highs were only in the mid-forties over northwest Iowa. Much warmer and more humid weather quickly returned for the weekend before a cold front swept across the state on Sunday. Temperature extremes ranged from a Tuesday morning low of 33 degrees at Elkader to afternoon highs of 83 degrees at Davenport and Maquoketa on Saturday (16th) and at Bellevue and Clinton on Sunday afternoon (17th). Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 0.4 degrees above normal. Severe thunderstorms were scattered across portions of northwest and west central Iowa on Sunday (10th) with greatest damage from high winds, large hail and a tornado in Calhoun County. There were also a few reports of damaging winds in central and south central Iowa early Sunday (17th) morning.



US Corn, Soybean Planting, Emergence Ahead of Average Pace

U.S. corn and soybean planting and emergence were ahead of the average pace, according to Monday's USDA Crop Progress report.

Corn planting was 85% complete as of Sunday, May 17, up 10 percentage points from the previous week and ahead of last year's 71% and the five-year average of 75%.  Fifty-six percent of the nation's corn was emerged, compared to 29% last week and the average of 40%.

Soybean planting increased by 14 percentage points to 45% planted as of Sunday, ahead of 31% last year and the five-year average of 36%. Thirteen percent of soybeans were emerged, ahead of 8% last year and slightly ahead of the average pace of 12%.

Development of the nation's winter wheat crop also sped along, with winter wheat 68% headed as of Sunday, up from 55% a year ago and above the five-year average of 56%. Also, forty-five percent of winter wheat was rated good to excellent on May 17. 

Spring wheat was 94% planted as of Sunday, up from 47% a year ago and well ahead of the five-year average of 65%. Sixty-seven percent of spring wheat has emerged, up from 22% a year ago and well above the five-year average of 38%.

Cotton was 35% planted, behind last year's 44% and the five-year average of 46% average.

Rice was 89% planted and 70% emerged, compared to 83% and 53% last week and 82% and 66% five-year averages.

Sorghum was 38% planted, compared to 32% last week and a 38% average.

Oats were 96% planted and 83% emerged, compared to 93% and 72% last week and 84% and 69% averages. Oats conditions were unchanged from the previous week with 73% for the crop rated good to excellent.

Barley was 95% planted and 72% emerged, compared to 88% and 59% last week and 70% and 40% on average.