May 26 Crop Progress & Condition Reports - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending May 24, 2015, cloudy, wet conditions hampered spring planting activities with an inch or more of rainfall common in the western half of the State, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Temperatures were again cool, and averaged six to eight degrees below normal. The wet conditions have been favorable for disease development in southeastern wheat fields, with some producers applying fungicide. Sunshine and warmer conditions were needed to dry soils and boost corn and soybean development. Alfalfa harvest has been slow due to the wet conditions. Pastures continued to improve. There were 2.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 5 percent very short, 9 short, 69 adequate, and 17 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 17 short, 66 adequate, and 11 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 32 fair, 54 good, and 7 excellent. Planted was at 92 percent, near 96 for both last year and the five-year average. Emerged was at 73 percent, near 70 last year, but ahead of 67 average.

Soybeans planted was at 59 percent, behind 85 last year and 73 average. Emerged was at 22 percent, behind 38 last year and 31 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 14 percent very poor, 18 poor, 32 fair, 34 good, and 2 excellent. Winter wheat jointed rated 95 percent complete, ahead of 79 last year and 83 average. Headed was at 40 percent, ahead of 26 last year and 29 average.

Oats condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 poor, 27 fair, 59 good, and 3 excellent. Jointed was at 53 percent, well ahead of 25 last year. Headed was at 2 percent, near 5 last year, but behind 7 average.

Sorghum planted was at 50 percent, near 53 last year and ahead of 41 average. Emerged was at 16 percent, ahead of 12 last year and 11 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 25 fair, 58 good, and 10 excellent. First cutting was at 11 percent, near 9 last year, but behind 20 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 8 poor, 29 fair, 53 good, and 6 excellent.  Stock water supplies rated 3 percent very short, 8 short, 83 adequate, and 6 surplus.



Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg/2010s/2015/CropProg-05-26-2015.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 conditions continued, delaying planting and allowing only 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the week ending May 24, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Cattle producers had concerns about muddy feedlots while crop farmers experienced spraying delays. Farmers are evaluating the need to replant corn in low-lying areas.

Topsoil moisture levels increased to 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Only southeast Iowa had any topsoil reported as being very short on moisture. Southwest Iowa had the highest subsoil moisture rating at 99 adequate to surplus.

Ninety-six percent of the corn crop has been planted, 1 day ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of the 5-year average. Southwest Iowa remains well behind the other districts with just 81 percent planted, while northwest, north central and central Iowa are virtually complete. Corn
emerged reached 81 percent, 6 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. The first corn condition rating of the season was 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 16 percent excellent.

Soybean planting reached 70 percent complete, behind last year’s pace for the first time this year. Thirty-two percent of the soybean crop has emerged, slightly ahead of last year and normal. With emergence nearly complete, oat conditions improved slightly with 82 percent good to excellent.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay advanced to 11 percent completed. Hay conditions improved slightly to 81 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition also improved to 74 percent good to excellent. Muddy conditions in pastures and feedlots have stressed livestock in some areas.



NORTHEY COMMENTS ON IOWA CROPS AND WEATHER REPORT

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.  The report is released weekly from April through October.

“Planting progress continues, but the wet weather has slowed it considerably from the record pace at the start of the season.  Much of the state remains at or ahead of the five-year average, but the Southwest part of the state has been challenged by wet conditions and as a result planting has lagged behind.  Farmers across the state are anxious to finish planting and move on to spraying and other field work,” Northey said



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

The past reporting week began with unseasonably cool weather prevailing from Monday (18th) through Friday(22nd). Daytime high temperatures were only in the mid-forties over parts of northern Iowa on Monday andWednesday. Afternoon temperatures climbed into the seventies over most of the state on Thursday and Fridaywhile overnight lows remained unseasonably low. Temperatures edged slightly above normal across most of thestate over the weekend. Temperature extremes ranged from a Thursday morning low of 33 degrees at Belle Plaineto a Sunday (24th) afternoon high of 81 degrees at Donnellson. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged6.5 degrees below normal. Meanwhile, there was scattered light rain on Sunday (17th) with some isolated higheramounts over parts of north central Iowa. Dry weather prevailed in most areas on Monday and Tuesday withlight rain over much of Iowa on Wednesday. All of Iowa was dry on Thursday while light rain fell across farwestern areas of the state on Friday and Saturday. Rain fell over all of Iowa on Sunday (24th) to close out thereporting week, but with some of this rain coming too late to be reflected in this week’s report. Weekly rain totalsvaried from only 0.03 inches at Cresco and Marquette to 1.71 inches at Britt and 1.55 inches at Mount Ayr. Thestatewide average precipitation was 0.45 inches while normal for the week is 1.05 inches.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report
The nation's corn crop was rated 74% good to excellent as of May 24, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress and Condition report released Tuesday. This was the first week condition ratings on corn were reported this growing season.  Ninety-two percent of corn is planted and 74% emerged nationwide, compared to 85% and 56% last week and 88% and 62% five-year averages.

Soybeans are 61% planted and 32% emerged, compared to 45% and 13% last week and averages of 55% and 25%.

Spring wheat is 96% planted and 80% emerged compared to 94% and 67% last week and 79% and 54% averages. Spring wheat condition improved to 69% good to excellent compared to 65% last week.

Winter wheat is 77% headed compared to 68% last week and a 67% average. Winter wheat condition held steady at 45% good to excellent.

Cotton is 47% planted, compared to 35% last week and 61% on average. Continual rains and flooding in Texas and Oklahoma may be affecting progress in those states. Rice is 93% planted and 82% emerged, compared to 89% and 70% last week and 92% and 77% on average. Rice condition held steady at 66% good to excellent.

Sorghum is 41% planted compared to 38% last week and 46% on average. Oats are 91% emerged and 26% headed, compared to 83% emerged last week and 79% and 30% on average. Oat condition ratings fell slightly to 8% very poor to poor compared to 6% last week. Seventy percent of the crop is now rated good to excellent compared to 73% last week. Barley is 86% emerged compared to 72% last week and a 55% average. Condition improved to 74% good to excellent compared to 64% last week.