August 8 Crop Progress & Condition Reports - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending August 6, 2017, temperatures averaged six to eight degrees below normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation ranged from half an inch to two inches across most of the State. The cooler temperatures and rain alleviated some stress seen in corn and soybeans caused by prior dry conditions. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 21 percent very short, 39 short, 40 adequate, and 0 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 20 percent very short, 38 short, 42 adequate, and 0 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 5 percent very poor, 11 poor, 25 fair, 43 good, and 16 excellent. Corn silking was 97 percent, near 98 last year, and equal to the five-year average. Dough was 40 percent, near 44 last year, and behind 45 average. Dented was 3 percent, behind 8 last year and 10 average.

Soybean condition rated 4 percent very poor, 9 poor, 29 fair, 48 good, and 10 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 94 percent, near 93 both last year and average. Setting pods was 65 percent, near 62 last year and 63 average.

Sorghum condition rated 3 percent very poor, 3 poor, 30 fair, 51 good, and 13 excellent. Sorghum headed was 59 percent, behind 69 last year, and near 61 average. Coloring was 4 percent, equal to last year, and near 6 average.

Oats harvested was 91 percent, ahead of 84 last year, and near 88 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 4 percent very poor, 14 poor, 37 fair, 38 good, and 7 excellent. Alfalfa third cutting was 65 percent complete, ahead of 56 last year and 50 average. Fourth cutting was 12 percent.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 15 percent very poor, 20 poor, 37 fair, 25 good, and 3 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 5 percent very short, 12 short, 83 adequate, and 0 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

All of Iowa experienced cooler than normal temperatures and most of the State received below normal precipitation during the week ending August 6, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included applying fungicides and insecticides, hauling grain, and haying.

Topsoil moisture levels declined to 24 percent very short, 32 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. According to the August 1, 2017 U.S. Drought Monitor, Iowa’s region of severe drought expanded to include 16 counties in south central and southeast Iowa. Subsoil moisture levels rated 19 percent very short, 32 percent short, 48 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Ninety-five percent of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the silking stage, 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Forty-two percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage, 4 days behind last year. Corn condition declined to 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 53 percent good and 11 percent excellent.

Soybeans blooming reached 89 percent, 1 week behind last year and 3 days behind average. Two-thirds of soybeans were setting pods, 5 days behind last year but equal to average. Soybean condition rated 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 50 percent good and 9 percent excellent. Eighty-eight percent of the oat crop for grain or seed has been harvested, 1 day ahead of average.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay was nearly complete. The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 38 percent complete, 3 days ahead of average. Hay condition dropped to 51 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition also dropped to 34 percent good to excellent. Cooler temperatures improved livestock conditions, but supplemental feeding has been required in some areas.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn condition was down just 1 percentage point from the previous week while soybean condition was up by 1 point, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

USDA estimated that 60% of the U.S. corn crop was in good-to-excellent condition as of Sunday, Aug. 6, down from 61% the previous week. Ninety-three percent of corn was silking as of Sunday, down from 96% a year ago and below the five-year average of 94%. Forty-two percent of corn was in the dough stage, down from 50% a year ago, and down from the five-year average of 44%. Seven percent of corn was dented, down from 8% a year ago and down from the five-year average of 11% dented.

While corn condition was down 1 point, soybean condition improved by 1 point, from 59% good to excellent the previous week to 60% good to excellent this past week, USDA said. USDA estimated 90% of soybeans were blooming as of Sunday, even with a year ago, but above the five-year average of 88%. Sixty-five percent of soybeans are setting pods, which is down from 67% a year ago, but above the five-year average of 62%.

Spring wheat also saw a 1-percentage-point increase in condition, from 31% good to excellent the previous week to 32% good to excellent this past week. Twenty-four percent of spring wheat was harvested, down from 27% a year ago, but above the five-year average of 21% harvested.

Meanwhile, winter wheat harvest progressed to 94% complete as of Sunday, up from 93% a year ago and above the five-year average of 92%, USDA said.

Sorghum was 62% headed and 26% coloring, compared to 49% and 23% last week, 72% and 30% last year, and averages of 63% and 32%. Sorghum condition held steady from the previous week at 61% good to excellent.

Barley was 25% harvested as of Sunday, behind 29% last year but ahead of the average pace of 22%. Oats were 50% harvested, compared to 35% last week, 66% last year and a 59% average.

Cotton was 93% squaring, 58% setting bolls and 8% bolls opening compared to an average pace of 96% squaring, 68% setting bolls and 7% bolls opening. Cotton condition improved slightly to 57% good to excellent from 56% good to excellent the previous week. Rice was 84% headed, ahead of the average of 72%, and 9% of rice was harvested as of Sunday, ahead of the average of 5% harvested. Rice condition improved slightly to 72% good to excellent from 71% good to excellent the previous week.