Weekly Crop Progress & Condition Report - April 8

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending April 7, 2019, there were 2.0 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 2 short, 63 adequate, and 35 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 4 short, 67 adequate, and 29 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 21 fair, 66 good, and 8 excellent. Oats planted was 8 percent, behind 17 last year, and well behind 30 for the five-year average.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION

Cool temperatures and rain throughout Iowa kept fields from drying out enough for fieldwork during the week ending April 7, 2019, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there was just 0.8 day suitable for fieldwork. Fieldwork activities were limited with some farmers spreading manure and applying dry fertilizer on fields able to support the equipment.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 56 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 54 percent surplus.

Two percent of oats have been planted statewide, nine days behind the 5-year average and nearly a week behind last year. This is the smallest percent planted by this time since 2008.

Cover crops and hay continue to green as warmer temperatures induced growth. Livestock and feedlot conditions have improved, but feedlots remain muddy.



Winter Wheat Condition Improves; Spring Wheat Planting Behind Average Pace

U.S. winter wheat condition improved last week, while spring wheat planting, reported for the first time this season in USDA NASS' weekly Crop Progress report on Monday, was behind the five-year average pace.  For the week ended Sunday, April 7, winter wheat was rated 60% in good-to-excellent condition, up 4 percentage points from 56% the previous week. The latest good-to-excellent rating is the highest for the crop in six years for this time of year.  Nationwide, 3% of winter wheat was headed as of Sunday, equal to last year and near the five-year average of 4%.

Spring wheat progress, on the other hand, was behind normal. Only 1% of the crop was planted as of Sunday, behind 2% last year and 5% for the five-year average. Planting was furthest behind in Idaho, where 3% of the crop was planted versus the average of 26%; Washington, where 11% was planted versus the average of 28%; and South Dakota, where none of the crop was planted versus the average of 14%.

In addition to spring wheat planting, NASS also reported national corn planting progress for this first time this season on Monday. As of Sunday, 2% of corn was planted, equal to both last year and the five-year average. Most corn planting took place in Texas, where 53% of the crop was planted as of Sunday, slightly ahead of the average pace of 51%.

Sorghum was 14% planted, compared to 16% last year and a 14% five-year average. Cotton planting was 6% complete, compared to 7% last year and a 5% average. Rice was 19% planted, compared to 20% last year and a 21% average. Oats were 27% planted as of April 7, compared to 27% last year and a 32% average. Emergence was at 25%, compared to 25% last year and a 26% average.