October 9 Crop Progress & Condition Report

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 7, 2018, there were 3.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 8 short, 76 adequate, and 15 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 11 short, 78 adequate, and 9 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 14 fair, 48 good, and 31 excellent. Corn mature was 92 percent, ahead of 81 last year and 82 for the five-year average. Harvested was 23 percent, ahead of 13 last year and 17 average.

Soybean condition rated 2 percent very poor, 4 poor, 12 fair, 55 good, and 27 excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 96 percent, equal to last year, and near 93 average. Harvested was 36 percent, ahead of 22 last year, and near 33 average.

Winter wheat planted was 87 percent, ahead of 76 last year, and near 85 average. Emerged was 60 percent, ahead of 55 last year, and equal to average.

Sorghum condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 16 fair, 48 good, and 33 excellent. Sorghum mature was 91 percent, ahead of 78 last year and 79 average. Harvested was 23 percent, near 19 last year, and ahead of 16 average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 21 fair, 62 good, and 10 excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Continued wet weather conditions allowed Iowa farmers just 1.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 7, 2018, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included harvesting corn and soybeans when weather permitted.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 41 percent adequate and 59 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 2 percent short, 50 percent adequate and 47 percent surplus. Recent rains have boosted topsoil moisture supplies in south central and southeast Iowa to 99 percent adequate to surplus.

Ninety-five percent of the corn crop was mature, 9 days ahead of average. Fifteen percent of the State’s corn for grain has been harvested, 10 days ahead of last year. Farmers in southeast Iowa continue to lead the way with 39 percent of their corn for grain harvested. Moisture content of field corn being harvested was at 20 percent. Corn condition rated 70 percent good to excellent.

Nearly all of the soybean crop was coloring with 94 percent dropping leaves, 8 days ahead of average. Eighteen percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, 5 days behind the average. Soybean condition rated 70 percent good to excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay was nearly complete at 98 percent. Pasture condition improved slightly to 55 percent good to excellent. Muddy feedlot conditions have been a challenge for cattle producers.



In Spite of Rain, Corn Harvest Pushes to 34% Complete

In spite of rain, the U.S. corn harvest has pushed forward, USDA's National Ag Statistics Service said in its weekly Crop Progress report on Tuesday, which was delayed a day due to Columbus Day.

As of Sunday, Oct. 7, 34% of corn was harvested nationwide, 8 percentage points ahead of the average pace of 26%. That was further ahead of normal than the previous week when harvest was even with the of average.

The soybean harvest, on the other hand, is slowing down. As of Sunday, 32% of the crop was harvested, which is 4 percentage points below the five-year average of 36%. That compares to the previous week when harvest was slightly ahead of the average.

Meanwhile, both crops continued to reach maturity ahead of the normal pace. Ninety-three percent of corn was mature, 10 percent ahead of the average of 83%. Soybeans were 91% dropping leaves, 6 percentage points ahead of the average of 85%.

Winter wheat planting was 57% finished last week, ahead of 46% at the same time last year and also slightly ahead of the five-year average of 54%. Winter wheat emerged, at 30%, was ahead of last year's 23% and ahead of the average pace of 28%.

Thirty-nine percent of the sorghum crop was harvested as of Sunday, behind the average pace of 42%.  Seventy-nine percent of rice was harvested as of Sunday, behind last year's 84% but equal to the five-year average. Seventy-eight percent of cotton had bolls opening, ahead of the average of 74%. Twenty-five percent of cotton was harvested, slightly ahead of last year's 24% and also ahead of the average pace of 18%.