August 24 Crop Progress & Condition Report - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending August 23, 2015, rainfall of an inch or more occurred during the first half of the week and covered much of the eastern third of Nebraska, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. However, the rain missed much of the southwest as well as south central counties. Temperatures averaged well below normal, lessening stress on livestock and dryland crops. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 5 percent very short, 28 short, 63 adequate, and 4 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 5 percent very short, 24 short, 69 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 18 fair, 57 good, and 20 excellent. Corn dough was at 85 percent, near 87 last year and the five-year average of 89. Dented was at 37 percent, near 41 last year, but behind 46 average.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 26 fair, 60 good, and 13 excellent. Sorghum headed was at 98 percent, near 96 last year, but ahead of 90 average. Coloring was at 29 percent, behind 47 last year, but ahead of 23 average.

Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 20 fair, 57 good, and 17 excellent. Soybeans setting pods was at 91 percent, near 94 last year and 93 average. Dropping leaves was at 5 percent, ahead of 0 last year and 1 average.

Oats harvested was at 97 percent, near 100 last year and 99 average. Alfalfa condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 28 fair, 54 good, and 13 excellent.

Alfalfa third cutting was at 86 percent, ahead of 80 last year and 81 average. Fourth cutting was at 22 percent, well ahead of 2 last year and ahead of 7 average.

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, 90 adequate, and 1 surplus.



Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg/2010s/2015/CropProg-08-24-2015.pdf.

Access the High Plains Region Climate Center for Temperature and Precipitation Maps at:
http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/maps.php?map=ACISClimateMaps.

Access the U.S. Drought Monitor at:
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION REPORT

Above normal precipitation in western Iowa drove the State average down to 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork, while drier conditions allowed farmers more than 5 days suitable in east central and southeastern Iowa for the week ending August 23, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included cutting hay, harvesting oats, and fungicide and insecticide applications. There were scattered reports of aphids in fields, as well as minor sudden death syndrome in soybean fields.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Heavy rains in northwest Iowa elevated subsoil moisture levels up 10 percentage points to 89 percent adequate to surplus this week.

Eighty-nine percent of the corn crop reached the dough stage or beyond, with 34 percent dented or beyond, 4 days behind the 5-year average. Scattered reports of corn reaching maturity were received this week. Corn condition rated 82 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans blooming neared completion this week, while 90 percent of soybeans were setting pods, with a few reports of soybeans starting to turn color. Soybean condition rated 77 percent good to excellent.

Oats harvested for grain or seed was nearing completion.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 97 percent complete, while the third cutting of alfalfa hay was 57 percent complete, 4 days behind average. Hay condition rated 66 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition rated 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

Iowa experienced its coolest week since the last week of May and the wettest week since June 2014. Rain fell over the northwest one-half of Iowa from late Sunday (16th) afternoon into Monday (17th) afternoon with torrential rain falling over a wide area from eastern Plymouth County to southwest Kossuth and northwest Humboldt counties. Additional rain fell statewide between Monday  afternoon and Tuesday (18th) night with a broad area of one to two inch amounts over the northwest two-thirds of Iowa. Some light rain fell over much of the state on Wednesday (19th). Dry weather prevailed on Thursday, Friday and into Saturday before another round of thunderstorms developed in western Iowa Saturday afternoon and brought rain to all but the far northwest portion of the state. Overall weekly rain totals varied from only 0.21 inches at Fort Madison to 9.12 inches at Cherokee and 8.16 inches at Remsen. The statewide average precipitation was 2.59 inches while normal for the week is 0.93 inches. Despite the recent widespread heavy rains there are a few areas in the state that have been missed, particularly the northeast corner, and could use some rain. Meanwhile, temperatures began the reporting week above normal over all but northwest Iowa on Monday (17th) with the temperature reaching 91 degrees at Donnellson. However, much cooler air moved into northwest Iowa on Monday and across all but far eastern Iowa on Tuesday. Wednesday (19th) and Thursday (20th) were the coolest days with daytime highs of only 61 degrees recorded at both Northwood and Anamosa on Wednesday while Thursday morning lows dipped to 44 degrees at Sheldon, Sibley and Sioux Center. A few areas warmed slightly above normal on Saturday (22nd) before much cooler air again moved into the state on Sunday (23rd) when Northwood saw an afternoon high of only 66 degrees. The week as a whole averaged 4.7 degrees cooler than normal.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn and soybean conditions held steady in the week ended Aug. 23, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report.

Eight-five percent of the corn crop is in the dough stage and 39% is in the dent stage, compared to 71% and 21% last week and five-year averages of 81% and 43%. Corn was rated 10% poor to very poor, equal to last week, while one percentage point moved out of the good and into the excellent category, so sixty-nine percent of the corn crop was rated good to excellent. 

Ninety-six percent of the soybean crop is blooming and 87% is setting pods, compared to 93% and 79% last week and five-year averages of 98% and 88%. Soybean conditions were the same as last week across the board, with 63% of soybeans were rated good to excellent. 

Spring wheat is 75% harvested, compared to 53% last week and a 47% five-year average; condition improved slightly in the past week.

Sorghum is 90% headed, 48% coloring and 27% mature. Last week these numbers were 83%, 39% and 24%, respectively. The five-year averages are 84%, 45% and 28%. Sorghum conditions improved slightly.

Oats are 90% harvested, compared to 80% last week and an 85% five-year average. Barley is 86% harvested, compared to 66% last week and a 50% five-year average. Barley conditions decreased slightly.

Eighty-three percent of the cotton crop is setting bolls and 14% has bolls opening, compared to 73% and 10% last week and five-year averages of 92% and 18%. Cotton condition worsened to 53% good to excellent compared to 55% last week.

Rice is 94% headed and 18% harvested, compared to 88% and 13% last week and five-year averages of 90% and 16%. Rice condition declined slightly.