August 17 Crop Progress & Condition Reports - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending August 16, 2015, Nebraska experienced near-normal temperatures, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Although some areas received up to three inches of rainfall, most of the State remained relatively dry. Producers continued irrigation activities and preparations for the fall planting of wheat. There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 28 short, 62 adequate, and 4 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 5 percent very short, 25 short, 67 adequate, and 3 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 17 fair, 59 good, and 19 excellent. Corn dough was at 72 percent, near 76 last year and the five-year average of 74. Dented was at 14 percent, near 18 last year, but behind 27 average.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 26 fair, 60 good, and 13 excellent. Sorghum headed was at 94 percent, ahead of 88 last year and 80 average. Sorghum coloring was at 13 percent, behind 35 last year, but near 12 average.

Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 21 fair, 56 good, and 17 excellent. Soybeans blooming was at 98 percent, near 99 last year, and equal to the average. Setting pods was at 81 percent, behind 88 last year, but near 85 average. Dropping leaves was at 1 percent, ahead of 0 for both last year and the average.

Oats harvested was at 94 percent, near 98 for both last year and the average.

Alfalfa condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 28 fair, 55 good, and 12 excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was at 97 percent, equal to the last year. Third cutting was at 67 percent, equal to the last year, and near 68 average. Fourth cutting was at 14 percent.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 6 poor, 24 fair, 55 good, and 12 excellent.Stock water supplies rated 2 percent very short, 7 short, 89 adequate, and 2 surplus.


Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg/2010s/2015/CropProg-08-17-2015.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 & CONDITION REPORT 

Mostly dry conditions throughout the week allowed Iowa farmers 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending August 16, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. This is the first time this year the State has averaged more than 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork in consecutive weeks. Activities for the week included cutting hay, harvesting oats, and fungicide and insecticide applications. Spraying activities were wrapping up in some areas. Reports of crops showing stress due to dry weather conditions trickled in this week. There were scattered reports of sudden death syndrome in soybean fields.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Sparse precipitation in north central and northeastern Iowa resulted in falling topsoil and subsoil moisture levels across the area, with subsoil moisture now around one-quarter short to very short.

Seventy-four percent of the corn crop reached the dough stage or beyond, with 14 percent dented or beyond, 5 days behind the 5-year average. Corn condition rated 82 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans blooming or beyond reached 95 percent, 8 days behind the previous year. Eighty-four percent of soybeans were setting pods, with a few reports of soybeans starting to turn color. Soybean condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Ninety-seven percent of the oat crop for grain or seed has been harvested, 1 day ahead of last year, but 2 days behind the average.

After spending three weeks lagging behind last year, the second cutting of alfalfa hay was equal to last year with 95 percent complete. The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 45 percent complete, 3 days behind average. Hay condition rated 66 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition dropped 6 percentage points to 67 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as normal.



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

Warm and humid conditions prevailed for most of the past week although Tuesday (11th) and Wednesday (12th) brought cooler weather to much of Iowa. Temperature extremes varied from a Wednesday morning low of 50 degrees at Elkader to a Saturday (15th) afternoon high of 92 degrees at Bellevue. Temperatures for the week as a whole varied from just below normal over far southeast Iowa to about three degrees above normal across northern sections of the state. The statewide average temperature was 1.5 degrees above normal. Most of the reporting week’s precipitation came on Sunday (9th) evening and night and primarily fell across the northwest two-thirds of the state. There were also some localized sowers over east central Iowa on Monday (10th) afternoon, as well as some light rain over portions of the northeast and southeast corners of the state on Friday (14th). Rain totals varied from none at scattered locations across southern and eastern Iowa including Lamoni, Fairfield, Iowa City, Cresco and Fayette to a 2.72 inch total at Spirit Lake. The statewide average precipitation was 0.28 inches while normal for the week is 0.98 inches. This was the Iowa’s driest reporting week in 15 weeks (week ending May 3). However, heavy rains fell over portions of the northwest one-third of Iowa Sunday (16th) evening into Monday (17th) morning, but largely fell too late to be reflected in this week’s statistics.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn conditions worsened slightly in the week ended August 16, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report, while soybean conditions remained unchanged.

Seventy-one percent of the corn crop is in the dough stage and 21% is in the dent stage, compared to 50% and 9% last week and five-year averages of 66% and 28%. Corn deteriorated to 10% poor to very poor, compared to 9% last week.

Ninety-three percent of the soybean crop is blooming and 79% is setting pods, compared to 88% and 69% last week and five-year averages of 95% and 79%. Soybean conditions held steady at 63% good to excellent.

Spring wheat is 53% harvested, compared to 28% last week and a 31% 5-year average; condition worsened slightly in the past week. 

Sorghum is 83% headed, 39% coloring and 24% mature. Last week these numbers were 72%, 32% and not available, respectively. The 5-year averages are 75%, 38% and 26%. Sorghum conditions worsened slightly.

Oats are 80% harvested, compared to 62% last week and a 75% five-year average. Barley is 66% harvested, compared to 42% last week and a 32% five-year average. Barley conditions improved slightly.

Seventy-three percent of the cotton crop is setting bolls and 10% has bolls opening, compared to 68% and 7% last week and five-year averages of 88% and 12%. Cotton condition worsened slightly.

Rice is 88% headed and 13% harvested, compared to 81% and not available last week and five-year averages of 82% and 10%. Rice condition declined to 68% good to excellent, compared to 69% last week.