September 24 Crop Progress & Condition Report - NE - IA - US

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending September 23, 2018, there were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 5 percent very short, 13 short, 78 adequate, and 4 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 14 short, 80 adequate, and 4 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 2 percent very poor, 4 poor, 12 fair, 51 good, and 31 excellent. Corn dented was 98 percent, near 96 both last year and for the five-year average. Mature was 69 percent, ahead of 52 last year and 53 average. Harvested was 9 percent, near 6 both last year and average.

Soybean condition rated 2 percent very poor, 4 poor, 11 fair, 54 good, and 29 excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 84 percent, ahead of 76 last year and 69 average. Harvested was 13 percent, near 9 last year, and ahead of 6 average.

Winter wheat planted was 53 percent, ahead of 44 last year, but near 56 average. Emerged was 8 percent, behind 13 last year and 19 average.

Sorghum condition rated 1 percent very poor, 1 poor, 14 fair, 56 good, and 28 excellent. Sorghum coloring was 95 percent, near 97 both last year and average. Mature was 48 percent, near 47 last year, and ahead of 41 average. Harvested was 6 percent, behind 11 last year, but near 4 average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 4 poor, 18 fair, 62 good, and 14 excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Another week of storms bringing heavy rainfall to much of the state left Iowa farmers just 3.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 23, 2018, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included seeding cover crops and harvesting corn, soybeans and hay.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 5 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 26 percent surplus. While topsoil moisture supplies have improved in south central Iowa, subsoil moisture levels still rated 62 percent short to very short.

Nearly all of the corn crop has reached the dent stage or beyond with 74 percent of the crop mature, just over a week ahead of average. Five percent of the State’s corn for grain crop has been harvested, 5 days ahead of both last year and average. Farmers in southeast Iowa lead the way with almost one-fifth of their corn for grain harvested. Moisture content of field corn being harvested was at 22 percent. Corn condition rated 73 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-three percent of the soybean crop was coloring with 72 percent dropping leaves, 1 week ahead of average. Eight percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, 5 days ahead of average. Soybean condition rated 72 percent good to excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay was nearly complete at 97 percent.

Pasture conditions improved slightly to 52 percent good to excellent. Rain and cooler temperatures have been beneficial for pasture regrowth. Feedlots will need some time to dry.



USDA:  Corn, Soybean Harvest Remains Ahead of Normal Nationwide

Though heavy rains halted fieldwork in portions of the Upper Midwest last week, nationwide, the corn and soybean harvest remained ahead of the average pace, USDA's National Ag Statistics Service said in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.

As of Sunday, Sept. 23, 16% of corn was harvested, 6 percentage points ahead of last year's pace of 10% and 5 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 11%. Soybeans were 14% harvested, 5 percentage points ahead of last year's 9% and 6 percentage points ahead of the average of 8%.

Both crops also continued to reach maturity at an ahead-of-normal pace. Seventy-two percent of corn was estimated as mature as of Sunday, 19 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 53%. The percentage of soybeans dropping leaves was estimated at 71%, 14 percentage points ahead of the average pace of 57%.

Nationwide, condition ratings for both corn and soybeans saw a slight improvement last week. Corn condition was rated 69% good to excellent, up 1 percentage point from 68% the previous week. Soybean condition was rated 68% good to excellent, up 1 percentage point from 67% the previous week.

Winter wheat planting jumped from 13% the previous week to 28% finished last week with several states making big strides. That's ahead of 22% at the same time last year and also slightly ahead of the five-year average of 26%.

Sorghum coloring was 94%, ahead of the five-year average of 90%. Sorghum mature was estimated at 50%, near 51% at the same time last year but behind the five-year average of 53%. Thirty percent of the sorghum crop was harvested as of Sunday, behind the average pace of 32%.

Sixty-five percent of rice was harvested as of Sunday, behind last year's 67% but ahead of the five-year average of 59%. Fifty-eight percent of cotton had bolls opening, near the average of 57%. Sixteen percent of cotton was harvested, ahead of last year's 14% and also ahead of the average pace of 9%.