April 1 USDA Crop Progress & Condition Report

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending March 31, 2019, there were 0.5 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent veryshort, 2 short, 51 adequate, and 47 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 4 short, 62 adequate, and 34 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 26 fair, 63 good, and 6 excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS REPORT

Fields remained wet across most of Iowa during the week ending March 31, 2019, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there was just 0.3 day suitable for fieldwork. Wet conditions prevented most field work activities; however, there were reports of hauling grain, spreading manure and planting oats.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 38 percent adequate and 62 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 43 percent adequate and 57 percent surplus.

There were a few reports of oats being planted. However, for the first time since 2013 less than 0.5 percent of the expected crop was planted by the end of March at the State level.

In parts of Iowa, pastures and hay have started to green. Temperature fluctuations have created some health issues during calving season and mud continued to be an issue in feedlots.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

U.S. winter wheat is starting off the 2019 growing season in the best condition in three years, according to USDA's first weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

For the week ended March 31, 2019, winter wheat was rated 56% in good-to-excellent condition, well above 32% at the same time last year and the highest initial good-to-excellent rating in three years. Nine percent of the crop was rated poor to very poor, well below 30% last year.

For the other crops USDA included in its report this week, planting was progressing at a near- to above-average pace. Sorghum was 13% planted, compared to 8% last year and a 9% five-year average. Cotton planting was 4% complete, compared to 6% last year and a 3% average. Rice was 12% planted, compared to 15% last year and a 12% average.

Nationwide, soil moisture was considerably higher this year than last year at the same time. Based on reports from 48 states, topsoil moisture nationally was rated 8% very short to short compared to 24% last year and 92% adequate to surplus compared to 76% last year. Subsoil moisture was rated 8% short to very short compared to 28% last year and 92% adequate to surplus compared to 72% last year.