September 11 Crop Progress & Condition Reports - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending September 10, 2017, temperatures averaged near normal across western Nebraska, but two to six degrees below normal in the east, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation was scattered and limited. Seed corn harvest was underway. There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 11 percent very short, 33 short, 56 adequate, and 0 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 12 percent very short, 35 short, 53 adequate, and 0 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 4 percent very poor, 8 poor, 24 fair, 47 good, and 17 excellent. Corn dented was 86 percent, near 87 last year and 85 for the five-year average. Mature was 18 percent, behind 25 last year and 27 average. Harvested was 2 percent, near 1 last year and 3 average.

Soybean condition rated 3 percent very poor, 7 poor, 27 fair, 51 good, and 12 excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 28 percent, near 27 last year and 25 average.

Winter wheat planted was 7 percent, behind 17 last year and 13 average.

Sorghum condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 29 fair, 50 good, and 18 excellent. Sorghum coloring was 84 percent, behind 94 last year, but ahead of 77 average. Mature was 15 percent, behind 21 last year, but ahead of 8 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 3 percent very poor, 10 poor, 31 fair, 44 good, and 12 excellent. Alfalfa fourth cutting was 57 percent complete, ahead of 50 last year and 47 average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 5 percent very poor, 18 poor, 47 fair, 27 good, and 3 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 11 short, 88 adequate, and 0 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

It was another dry week in Iowa with only localized showers during the week ending September 10, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included cutting hay, chopping corn for silage, seeding cover crops, hauling grain, and preparing for grain harvest.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 17 percent very short, 32 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. South central and southeast Iowa continue to be the driest parts of the state with over 80 percent of topsoil moisture rated short to very short. Subsoil moisture levels rated 19 percent very short, 34 percent short, 47 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Seventy-six percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage or beyond, three days behind the 5-year average. Fifteen percent of corn had reached maturity, six days behind last year and eight days behind average. Corn condition rated 60 percent good to excellent.

Forty-seven percent of soybeans were turning color, one day behind average. Eight percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, four days behind average. Soybean condition rated 61 percent good to excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 95 percent complete, over one week ahead of last year. There were some reports of producers starting to cut their fourth crop of alfalfa.

Pasture conditions declined to 41 percent poor to very poor due to continued dry conditions slowing growth. Livestock conditions remained good, with reports of cattlemen weaning calves.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Soybean conditions fell slightly from the previous week and the crop's progress fell behind the average pace, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.  USDA said 22% of soybeans were dropping leaves, as of Sunday, Sept. 10, down from 24% a year ago and below the five-year average of 25%. Sixty percent of the soybean crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 61% the previous week.

Corn progress also continued to lag behind the normal pace with USDA reporting 96% of corn in the dough stage as of Sunday, down from 99% a year ago and down from the five-year average of 97%. Seventy-five percent of corn was dented, down from 85% a year ago and down from the five-year average of 81% dented. Twenty-one percent of corn was considered mature, down from 31% a year ago and the five-year average of 31% mature. Five percent of corn was harvested as of Sunday, even with a year ago but down from the five-year average of 6% harvested.  Sixty-one percent of corn was rated in good-to-excellent condition, the same as the previous week.

Spring wheat harvest was nearing completion with USDA reporting that 95% of spring wheat was harvested as of Sunday, up from 94% a year ago and above the five-year average of 87% harvested.

Winter wheat farmers have also begun planting next year's crop, with USDA reporting 5% of winter wheat planted as of Sunday, even with a year ago and below the five-year average of 6% planted.

Sorghum was 74% coloring, equal to the average pace, while mature was 35%, behind the average of 39%. Sorghum harvested was 24%, behind the average of 27%. Sorghum condition rose to 66% good to excellent from 63% the previous week.

Cotton was 34% bolls opening compared to an average pace of 40% bolls opening. Cotton harvest was estimated at 9%, ahead of the average of 4%. Nationwide, cotton condition fell to 63% good to excellent from 65% good to excellent the previous week.

Barley was 96% harvested as of Sunday, ahead of the average pace of 93%. Oats were 96% harvested, slightly behind the average of 97%. Rice was 43% harvested, slightly ahead of the average of 40% harvested.