August 31 Crop Progress & Conditon Report - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending August 30, 2015, cooler temperatures were noted in eastern counties where significant rainfall occurred, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. However, western dryland crops and pastures were showing stress as producers worked to keep up with demands of irrigated crops. Final hay harvest was active, as was preparation for winter wheat planting in the west. There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 29 short, 61 adequate, and 4 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 25 short, 67 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 18 fair, 58 good, and 19 excellent. Corn dough was at 91 percent, near 93 last year and the five-year average of 95. Dented was at 59 percent, equal to last year, but behind 64 average. Mature was at 1 percent, behind 7 last year and 8 average.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 26 fair, 59 good, and 14 excellent. Sorghum coloring was at 43 percent, well behind 68 last year, but near 42 average.

Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 20 fair, 57 good, and 17 excellent. Soybeans setting pods was at 96 percent, near 99 last year and 98 average. Dropping leaves was at 10 percent, ahead of 4 last year and 3 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 28 fair, 54 good, and 13 excellent. Alfalfa third cutting was at 94 percent, ahead of 89 last year and 88 average. Fourth cutting was at 29 percent, ahead of 17 for both last year and the average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 6 poor, 25 fair, 55 good, and 11 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-08-31-2015.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 & CONDITION REPORT

Already saturated fields along with heavy rains on Friday limited fieldwork in the State to 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending August 30, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included cutting hay and silage, as well as harvesting oats. Scattered reports of sudden death syndrome and white mold in soybean fields were received.  Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Heavy rains in central Iowa raised topsoil and subsoil surplus moisture levels up 13 and 12 percentage points to 28 and 30 percent, respectively.

Ninety-five percent of the corn crop reached the dough stage or beyond, with 57 percent dented or beyond, 3 days ahead of last year, but 3 days behind the 5-year average. Three percent of the corn crop was reported as being mature. Corn condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-five percent of soybeans were setting pods or beyond, while 11 percent of soybeans were turning color, 2 days ahead of 2014, but 2 days behind normal. Soybeans dropping leaves were also reported this week by a few reporters. Soybean condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.

Oats harvested for grain or seed was virtually complete this week.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay was nearing completion, while the third cutting of alfalfa hay was 67 percent complete, 5 days behind average.

Pasture condition rated 66 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as generally good, although muddy lots were reported in some areas.



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

It was an unseasonably cool week across Iowa with highly variable rainfall amounts. There was a gradual warming trend during the week with a few locations edging slightly above normal on Thursday (27th) and Sunday (30th). Temperature extremes for the week ranged from Tuesday (25th) morning lows of 40 degrees at Spencer and Sheldon to a Sunday (30th) afternoon high of 85 degrees at Donnellson. The statewide average temperature for the week was 5.9 degrees below normal. Dry weather prevailed statewide from Sunday (23rd)morning through Wednesday (26th) night. Showers and thunderstorms brought rain to all but far southeastern Iowa between Thursday (27th) morning and Saturday (29th) morning. Very heavy rain fell Friday (28th) along and just south of U.S. Highway 20 from Fort Dodge east to Waterloo with four to six inch amounts common.Weekly rain totals varied from only sprinkles at Bloomfield, Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, Burlington, Fort Madison and Keokuk to 6.59 inches at Steamboat Rock in Hardin County. However, unofficial rain totals between 9 and 10 inches were received from southeast Webster and southern Hamilton counties. The statewide average precipitation was 1.52 inches while normal for the week is 0.91 inches.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn condition ratings dropped slightly while soybean conditions held steady in the week ended Aug. 30, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report.

Sixty percent of the nation's corn crop is in the dent stage and 9% is mature, compared to 39% and not available last week and five-year averages of 60% and 15%. Corn was rated 68% good to excellent, compared to 69% last week.

Ninety-three percent of the soybean crop is setting pods and 9% is dropping leaves, compared to 87% and not available last week and five-year averages of 95% and 7%. Soybean conditions were 63% good to excellent, equal to last week's rating.

Spring wheat is 88% harvested, compared to 75% last week and a 62% five-year average.

Sorghum is 58% coloring, 29% mature and 15% harvested; last week these numbers were 48%, 27% and not available, respectively. The five-year averages are 54%, 30% and 23%. Sorghum conditions were steady.