June 15 Crop Progress & Condition Report - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending June 14, 2015, above normal temperatures and limited rainfall early in the week boosted crop development, but cloudy skies and rainfall of one inch or more later in the week was common in eastern areas, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Temperatures averaged one to two degrees above normal. Three or more inches of precipitation occurred in portions of the southeast causing further planting delays while western producers made good progress. Alfalfa harvest continued to be challenging in eastern areas, with few days between rain events. There were 3.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 3 percent very short, 7 short, 70 adequate, and 20 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 12 short, 68 adequate, and 16 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 27 fair, 58 good, and 9 excellent. Corn emerged was at 97 percent, near 99 for both last year and the five-year average.  Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 38 fair, 58 good, and 3 excellent.

Sorghum planted was at 80 percent, behind 97 last year and 93 average. Emerged was at 48 percent, near 46 last year, but behind 66 average. 

Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 25 fair, 58 good, and 10 excellent. Soybeans planted was at 91 percent, behind 100 last year and 98 average. Emerged was at 78 percent, behind 96 last year and 90 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 14 percent very poor, 20 poor, 31 fair, 33 good, and 2 excellent. Winter wheat headed was at 95 percent, near 92 last year, but ahead of 89 average. Coloring was at 31 percent, ahead of 17 last year, but near 28 average. 

Oats condition rated 2 percent very poor, 7 poor, 26 fair, 61 good, and 4 excellent. Oats jointed was at 90 percent, well ahead of 70 last year. Headed was at 54 percent, near 50 last year and 56 average. 

Alfalfa condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 27 fair, 56 good, and 13 excellent. Alfalfa first cutting wasat 56 percent, behind 67 last year and 69 average. 

Proso millet planted was at 20 percent, behind 32 last year, and well behind 46 average.  

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 24 fair, 59 good, and 12 excellent.  Stock water supplies rated 2 percent very short, 6 short, 86 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-06-15-2015.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

Sunny and warm temperatures early in the week spurred growth and fieldwork progress in Iowa, however fieldwork slowed due to wet conditions during the latter part of the week ending June 14, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were only
3.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included planting, cutting and baling hay, and spraying. Although some spraying was done early in the week, weeds remain a concern throughout the State as crop emergence continues and farmers are unable to get into their fields to spray.

Topsoil moisture levels rated to 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus. South central Iowa is the only area of the State reporting no topsoil
rated very short or short on moisture.

Ninety-eight percent of the corn crop has emerged, 6 days behind last year, but 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Eighty-four percent of the corn crop was rated good to excellent.

Soybean planting reached 93 percent complete, 2 weeks behind 2014, but equal to the average. Saturated soil conditions in southwest and south central Iowa continued to delay planting, with only 72 and 75 percent of their soybean crop in the ground, respectively. Soybean emergence reached 83 percent, 2 days behind normal. Soybean condition rated 80 percent good to excellent this week.

Oats headed reached 49 percent this week, slightly ahead of last year, but 1 day behind average. Oat condition remained 81 percent good to excellent.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay reached 66 percent complete this week. Hay conditions rated 78 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 82 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were described as good due to mild temperatures, but reports out of western Iowa indicate insect stress on cattle is increasing. Cattle lots remain muddy throughout Iowa.



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

The past reporting week began with a few scattered showers and thunderstorms late Sunday (7th) over parts of far southern and eastern Iowa. Dry weather prevailed over most of the state on Monday (8th) and Tuesday (9th) while thunderstorms brought locally heavy rain to the southern one-third of Iowa on Wednesday (10th) afternoon and evening with light to moderate rain falling over the northwest one-quarter of the state. Showers and thunderstorms brought rain to all of Iowa on Thursday (11th) with locally heavy rain over parts of southwest and east central Iowa. Friday (12th) and Saturday (13th) brought more rain to east central and southeast Iowa. Additional rain fell on Sunday (14th) and Sunday night over the southern two-thirds of the state with some locally heavy rains over portions of southwest and central Iowa. Some of the Sunday rainfall would have fallen too late to be reflected fully in the crop condition reports. Weekly rain totals were generally lowest across northwestern Iowa with a report just south of Lake Park in Dickinson County of 0.43 inches.  However, very heavy rain fell in other areas, particularly in southwest and east central sections. The largest reported total came from north of New Market in Taylor County of 6.07 inches. Other hefty totals included 5.98 inches in Davenport, 5.37 inches near Amana and 4.76 inches at Sidney. The statewide average precipitation total was 1.91 inches while normal for the week is 1.19 inches. This was the highest weekly average in 39 weeks (second week of September 2014).  A few of the thunderstorms over the southern one-third of Iowa were accompanied by large hail and/or high winds on Sunday (7th), Wednesday (10th) and Thursday (11th). Temperatures were well above normal for most of the week with daytime highs in the nineties nearly everywhere on Tuesday (9th) with a highest reading of 99 degrees at Sioux City. Hot weather continued on Wednesday, along with more humidity, with 97 degree maximums at Clarinda, Red Oak and Shenandoah. However, persistent cloud cover and rainfall held daytime highs in the sixties over many northern and western areas on Thursday and Friday. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 3.2 degrees above normal (72.4 degrees, weekly normal of 69.2), making this the warmest week since the last week of August 2014.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn and soybean conditions fell slightly in the past week, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress and Condition reports released Monday. Excess moisture began to be a problem in more areas of the Corn Belt, keeping soybean planting 3 percentage points behind the average rate.

Corn was 97% emerged nationwide, compared to 91% last week and a 95% five-year average. Corn condition fell to 73% good to excellent, compared to 74% last week. 

Soybeans were 87% planted and 75% emerged, compared to 79% and 64% last week and 90% and 77% on average. Soybean conditions fell to 67% good to excellent, compared to 69% the previous week.

Winter wheat was 96% headed and 11% harvested, compared to 91% and 4% last week, and 89% and 20% on average. Winter wheat condition held steady at 43% good to excellent. 

Spring wheat condition rose to 70% good to excellent compared to 69% last week. 

Cotton was 91% planted and 13% squaring, compared to 81% and 7% the previous week and 96% and 16% on average. Cotton condition rose to 55% good to excellent, compared to 50% the previous week. Rice was rated 69% good to excellent, compared to 68% the previous week.

Sorghum planting increased to 71% complete, compared to 56% the previous week and an 80% five-year average. Sorghum condition was rated for the first time this growing season at 67% good to excellent.

Oats were 51% headed, compared to 38% last week and 49% on average. Oat condition rose to 67% good to excellent from 66% the previous week. Barley was rated 75% good to excellent compared to 76% the previous week.