August 28 Crop Progress & Condition Report - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending August 27, 2017, temperatures averaged near normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Significant rainfall of an inch or more was received across most eastern counties, however western counties and the panhandle area remained relatively dry. There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 7 percent very short, 23 short, 66 adequate, and 4 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 10 percent very short, 29 short, 60 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 4 percent very poor, 9 poor, 24 fair, 47 good, and 16 excellent. Corn dough was 94 percent, equal to last year, and near 92 for the five-year average. Dented was 51 percent, behind 58 last year and 56 average. Mature was 1 percent, near 4 last year, and behind 7 average.

Soybean condition rated 3 percent very poor, 7 poor, 25 fair, 54 good, and 11 excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 97 percent, near 95 last year and 96 average. Dropping leaves was 3 percent, near 7 last year and 5 average.

Sorghum condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 29 fair, 50 good, and 18 excellent. Sorghum headed was 98 percent, equal to last year, and near 94 average. Coloring was 38 percent, well behind 70 last year, but near 39 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 4 percent very poor, 9 poor, 29 fair, 46 good, and 12 excellent. Alfalfa third cutting was 92 percent complete, equal to last year, and near 89 average. Fourth cutting was 30 percent, behind 36 last year, but ahead of 20 average.

Dry edible beans condition rated 2 percent very poor, 8 poor, 18 fair, 51 good, and 21 excellent. Dry edible beans setting pods was 94 percent, ahead of 88 last year. Dropping leaves was 5 percent, behind 17 last year and 15 average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 7 percent very poor, 20 poor, 43 fair, 26 good, and 4 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 2 percent very short, 10 short, 88 adequate, and 0 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Iowa experienced below normal temperatures and received adequate rain throughout the western half of the state during the week ending August 27, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included haying, hauling grain, chopping corn, and harvest equipment preparation.

Topsoil moisture levels improved to 13 percent very short, 26 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture levels in south central Iowa were reported at 85 percent short to very short. This is the first time in 5 weeks that topsoil moisture has been less than 90 percent short to very short in that district. Subsoil moisture levels rated 18 percent very short, 31 percent short, 50 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop was in or beyond the dough stage, 8 days behind last year, but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Forty-one percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage, 8 days behind last year and four days behind average. Sixty percent of the corn crop was rated in good to excellent condition.

Ninety-four percent of soybeans were setting pods, 2 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of average. Six percent of soybeans started to turn color, 3 days behind average. Soybean condition improved slightly to 60 percent good to excellent. Similar pests and weeds as last year were reported for soybeans, with limited reports of disease pressure such as sudden death syndrome or mold issues.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 82 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of average.

Pasture condition rated 17 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 22 percent good and 3 percent excellent. Lack of water in ponds and creeks continues to be an issue in the southern district for cattle, with reports of cattlemen hauling water and using CRP acres for emergency haying and grazing.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Soybean conditions improved slightly last week while corn conditions continued to hold steady, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.  USDA estimated soybean conditions at 61% good to excellent as of Sunday, Aug. 27, up 1 percentage point from 60% the previous week.  USDA said 93% of soybeans were setting pods as of Sunday, even with a year ago and above the five-year average of 92%. Six percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, up from 5% for both a year ago and the five-year average.

Meanwhile, corn progress continued to lag behind the average pace last week. USDA estimated that 86% of corn had reached the dough stage as of Sunday, down from 91% a year ago, and down slightly from the five-year average of 87%. Forty-four percent of corn was dented, down from 57% a year ago and down from the five-year average of 51% dented. Six percent of the corn crop was considered mature, down from 8% a year ago and down from the five-year average of 10% mature.  Corn was rated 62% in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week. 

Spring wheat harvest progressed to 76% complete as of Sunday, down from 79% a year ago, but above the five-year average of 66% harvested. 

Sorghum was 49% coloring, behind the average of 54%, and mature was 29%, also behind the average of 31% mature. Sorghum harvested was 21%, near the average of 22%. Sorghum condition dropped slightly to 65% good to excellent from 66% good to excellent the previous week.

Barley was 83% harvested as of Sunday, ahead of the average pace of 73%. Oats were 86% harvested, behind the average of 90%.

Cotton was 93% setting bolls and 18% bolls opening compared to an average pace of 93% setting bolls and 20% bolls opening. Cotton condition improved to 65% good to excellent from 63% good to excellent the previous week. Rice was 24% harvested as of Sunday, ahead of the average of 20% harvested.