October 17 Crop Progress & Condition Report - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 15, 2017, temperatures averaged near normal across eastern Nebraska, but four to eight degrees below normal in the west, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation of less than an inch was scattered across a majority of the State; however, a few southeastern counties received over an inch of rain. Wet fields continued to slow harvest. There were 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 7 short, 80 adequate, and 11 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 14 short, 76 adequate, and 6 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 4 percent very poor, 9 poor, 23 fair, 46 good, and 18 excellent. Corn mature was 92 percent, near 95 last year and 93 for the five-year average. Harvested was 17 percent, behind 32 last year, and well behind 39 average.

Soybean condition rated 4 percent very poor, 9 poor, 26 fair, 49 good, and 12 excellent. Soybeans harvested was 33 percent, well behind 59 last year and 67 average.

Winter wheat planted was 86 percent, behind 98 last year and 95 average. Emerged was 66 percent, well behind 88 last year, and behind 72 average.

Sorghum condition rated 3 percent very poor, 2 poor, 20 fair, 53 good, and 22 excellent. Sorghum mature was 92 percent, behind 98 last year, but equal to average. Harvested was 22 percent, well behind 49 last year, and behind 34 average.

Alfalfa fourth cutting was 92 percent complete, ahead of 86 last year.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 13 poor, 45 fair, 35 good, and 4 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 4 short, 92 adequate, and 3 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Most Iowa farmers fell further behind on harvest due to rain throughout much of the state during the week ending October 15, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were only 2.0 days suitable for fieldwork; the second week in a row Iowa has had less than 3 days suitable for fieldwork. Many activities were delayed due to the wet conditions, but when the weather allowed farmers harvested corn for grain and soybeans, planted cover crops, and hauled manure.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 4 percent very short, 7 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 9 percent very short, 16 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.

Ninety-four percent of corn had reached maturity or beyond, six days behind last year and two days behind the 5-year average. Just 13 percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, the smallest percentage harvested by this date since 2009 and over 2 weeks behind average. Moisture content of corn being harvested for grain averaged 21 percent. Corn condition rated 61 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-six percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, one day ahead of last year and two days ahead of average. Thirty-two percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, the lowest percentage harvested by this date since 1985. Only east central Iowa farmers have harvested over 50 percent of their soybean crop. Soybean condition rated 63 percent good to excellent.

Pasture conditions continued to improve with the additional rain to 31 percent good to excellent. Feedlots remain very muddy.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn and soybean harvest continued to fall further behind the average pace during the week ended Oct. 15, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released on Monday.  USDA estimated that 28% of corn was harvested as of Sunday, 19 percentage points behind the average pace of 47%. In last Monday's report, harvest was 15 points behind the average pace.

Soybean harvest progress also fell further behind normal. USDA estimated that 49% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, 11 percentage points behind the five-year average of 60%. In last Monday's report, soybean harvest lagged the average pace by 7 points.

Meanwhile, USDA estimated winter wheat planting to be 60% complete as of Sunday, 11 percentage points behind the average pace of 71%. Winter wheat emergence was estimated at 37%, 6 percentage points behind the average of 43%.

Sorghum was 40% harvested, behind the five-year average of 50%.

Cotton was 82% in the bolls opening stage and the crop was 31% harvested nationwide, ahead of the average of 26% harvested.