September 26 Crop Progress and Harvest Report
Posted
in Chad Moyer's Blog
at 04:47PM on 09/26/2011
Weather Promotes Harvest in Nebraska
Grain Moisture Limiting Factor
Agricultural Summary:
For the week ending September 25, 2011, dry weather allowed for harvesting to pick up momentum, but progress was limited due to high grain moisture levels, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Frost was recorded in portions of Nebraska, however, a statewide hard freeze has yet to occur. Harvest of corn silage, high moisture corn, and seed corn were winding down. Dry bean harvest was near the halfway point and sugarbeet harvest has begun in the west. About one quarter of the winter wheat crop has emerged.
Weather Summary:
Temperatures for the week averaged 4 to 8 degrees below normal for the eastern half of the state and from near normal to 4 degrees below normal for the western half. Highs were in the 80’s and lows were in the 30’s. Very little rain fell during the week. The South East District had the highest accumulation of near one tenth of an inch of precipitation. The rest of the state was mostly dry.
Topsoil Moisture: Very Short - 7%, Short - 28%, Adequate - 65%, Surplus - 0%
Subsoil Moisture: Very Short - 4%, Short - 27%, Adequate - 68, Surplus - 1%
Average Rainfall Since April 1: NE - 20.87 inches, +9%; EC - 24.01 inches, +17%; SE - 21.04 inches, -2%.
GDD since April 15 (normal): Concord 2676 (3079); West Point 2796 (3168); Mead 2966 (3254).
Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 17 fair, 55 good, and 21 excellent, below 81 percent good to excellent last year but near 75 average. Irrigated corn conditions rated 79 percent good to excellent and dryland corn rated 69. Corn mature was 52 percent, well behind 74 last year and 57 average. Corn harvest was at 6 percent, behind 9 last year but equal to average.
Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 17 fair, 57 good, and 22 excellent, above 76 percent good to excellent last year and 74 average. Soybeans turning color was 92 percent, behind 94 last year and average. Soybeans dropping leaves was 47 percent, well behind 76 last year and 67 average. Soybean harvest was just underway.
Winter Wheat seeded was 66 percent, equal to last year but ahead of 63 average. Wheat emerged was 27 percent, ahead of 22 last year and near 26 average.
Sorghum conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 19 fair, 58 good, and 19 excellent, above last year’s good to excellent rating of 72 percent and average. Sorghum turning color was 95 percent, equal to last year but ahead of 93 average. Sorghum mature was 34 percent, behind 41 last year and near 35 average. Sorghum harvested was 2 percent, equal to last year and average.
Alfalfa rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 23 fair, 63 good, and 11 excellent, below 78 percent good to excellent last year. The fourth cutting of alfalfa was at 82 percent, ahead of 75 last year and 68 average.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 22 fair, 61 good, and 10 excellent, below last year’s 83 percent good to excellent but above 59 average.
USDA Weekly Crop Progress
Soybean harvest has begun with USDA reporting 5% of the nation's crop was in the bin as of Sept. 25 on Monday's Weekly Crop Progress report. That compares to 15% last year and a five-year average of 11%. Fifty-eight percent of the crop nationwide is dropping leaves, compared to 33% last week, 74% last year and 68% on average.
Corn harvest picked up a little, with 15% of the crop out of the field compared to 10% last week, 26% last year and a five year average of 16%. Sixty-three percent of the crop is mature, compared to 46% last week, 83% last year and 64% on average.
Twenty-six percent of the winter wheat has been planted, compared to 14% last week, 30% last year and a 35% average. Six percent of the crop has emerged, compared to 10% last year and a 10% average. Click here to see the latest national progress numbers... http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProg/CropProg-09-26-2011.txt.
Standability Becomes a Worry in Iowa Corn
Although harvest of both corn and soybean crops is currently underway, cool and cloudy weather has slowed drying of the crops. Flood gauges along the Missouri River are finally dropping below flood stage and some farmers with flooded acres are seeding winter wheat or similar crops for winter cover and soil improvement.
There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the past week. Topsoil moisture levels rated 16 percent very short, 34 percent short, 48 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 14 percent very short, 34 percent short, 51 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.
Eighty percent of the corn crop is now mature, 5 days behind last year but 6 days ahead of normal. Five percent of the corn crop has been harvested for grain or seed, behind 2010’s nine percent but equal to the five-year average. The moisture content of the corn left to harvest throughout othe State dropped 2 percent from previous week to an average of 27 percent, with the corn currently being harvested running 23 percent moisture content. Reports of moderate to heavy corn lodging declined from 18 to 14 percent as many farmers concentrate on harvesting damaged corn first. Ear droppage remains a larger problem than last year at this time, but only 7 percent of the crop is experiencing moderate to heavy ear droppage. Corn condition stands at 5 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.
Ninety-four percent of the soybean crop has turned color, equal to both last year and the five-year average. Over half of Iowa’s soybean fields are dropping leaves, but development still lags 6 days behind last year and normal. Just 3 percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, behind last year’s 7 percent and the normal 8 percent. Soybean lodging and shattering levels are nearly identical to last year at this time. Soybean condition stands at 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 48 percent good and 15 percent excellent.
Third cutting alfalfa hay harvest advanced to 96 percent complete, equal to last year’s pace but ahead of the normal 94 percent. The condition of the hay crop is reported at 8 percent very poor, 18 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.
Pasture and range condition rated 12 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Livestock conditions continue to be excellent.
IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist
The past reporting week began with mild weather with daytime highs mostly in the 70’s along with a few 80’s on Monday (19th) and Tuesday (20th). Keosauqua reported the highest temperature reaching 84 degrees on Tuesday. However, below normal temperatures were the rule for the rest of the week with highs mostly in the 60’s. Freezing temperatures were reported in some areas from Thursday (22nd) through Sunday (25th) with the most widespread cold coming on Friday (23rd) morning when temperatures fell to 28 degrees at Battle Creek and Sheldon. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 5.1 degrees below normal. Dry weather prevailed for most of the week. However, light rain showers were scattered over much of the state on Monday night into Tuesday and over northeastern Iowa on both Wednesday and Thursday. A few isolated thunderstorms were reported over the eastern one-quarter of the state on Saturday (24th) and Sunday (25th). There was no measurable rainfall across much of southern Iowa while Volga in Clayton County reported the most rain with 0.28 inch. The statewide average precipitation was only 0.05 inch while normal for the week is 0.75 inch. This was the seventh week of the past eight to bring less than normal rainfall.
Grain Moisture Limiting Factor
Agricultural Summary:
For the week ending September 25, 2011, dry weather allowed for harvesting to pick up momentum, but progress was limited due to high grain moisture levels, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Frost was recorded in portions of Nebraska, however, a statewide hard freeze has yet to occur. Harvest of corn silage, high moisture corn, and seed corn were winding down. Dry bean harvest was near the halfway point and sugarbeet harvest has begun in the west. About one quarter of the winter wheat crop has emerged.
Weather Summary:
Temperatures for the week averaged 4 to 8 degrees below normal for the eastern half of the state and from near normal to 4 degrees below normal for the western half. Highs were in the 80’s and lows were in the 30’s. Very little rain fell during the week. The South East District had the highest accumulation of near one tenth of an inch of precipitation. The rest of the state was mostly dry.
Topsoil Moisture: Very Short - 7%, Short - 28%, Adequate - 65%, Surplus - 0%
Subsoil Moisture: Very Short - 4%, Short - 27%, Adequate - 68, Surplus - 1%
Average Rainfall Since April 1: NE - 20.87 inches, +9%; EC - 24.01 inches, +17%; SE - 21.04 inches, -2%.
GDD since April 15 (normal): Concord 2676 (3079); West Point 2796 (3168); Mead 2966 (3254).
Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 17 fair, 55 good, and 21 excellent, below 81 percent good to excellent last year but near 75 average. Irrigated corn conditions rated 79 percent good to excellent and dryland corn rated 69. Corn mature was 52 percent, well behind 74 last year and 57 average. Corn harvest was at 6 percent, behind 9 last year but equal to average.
Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 17 fair, 57 good, and 22 excellent, above 76 percent good to excellent last year and 74 average. Soybeans turning color was 92 percent, behind 94 last year and average. Soybeans dropping leaves was 47 percent, well behind 76 last year and 67 average. Soybean harvest was just underway.
Winter Wheat seeded was 66 percent, equal to last year but ahead of 63 average. Wheat emerged was 27 percent, ahead of 22 last year and near 26 average.
Sorghum conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 19 fair, 58 good, and 19 excellent, above last year’s good to excellent rating of 72 percent and average. Sorghum turning color was 95 percent, equal to last year but ahead of 93 average. Sorghum mature was 34 percent, behind 41 last year and near 35 average. Sorghum harvested was 2 percent, equal to last year and average.
Alfalfa rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 23 fair, 63 good, and 11 excellent, below 78 percent good to excellent last year. The fourth cutting of alfalfa was at 82 percent, ahead of 75 last year and 68 average.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 22 fair, 61 good, and 10 excellent, below last year’s 83 percent good to excellent but above 59 average.
USDA Weekly Crop Progress
Soybean harvest has begun with USDA reporting 5% of the nation's crop was in the bin as of Sept. 25 on Monday's Weekly Crop Progress report. That compares to 15% last year and a five-year average of 11%. Fifty-eight percent of the crop nationwide is dropping leaves, compared to 33% last week, 74% last year and 68% on average.
Corn harvest picked up a little, with 15% of the crop out of the field compared to 10% last week, 26% last year and a five year average of 16%. Sixty-three percent of the crop is mature, compared to 46% last week, 83% last year and 64% on average.
Twenty-six percent of the winter wheat has been planted, compared to 14% last week, 30% last year and a 35% average. Six percent of the crop has emerged, compared to 10% last year and a 10% average. Click here to see the latest national progress numbers... http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProg/CropProg-09-26-2011.txt.
Standability Becomes a Worry in Iowa Corn
Although harvest of both corn and soybean crops is currently underway, cool and cloudy weather has slowed drying of the crops. Flood gauges along the Missouri River are finally dropping below flood stage and some farmers with flooded acres are seeding winter wheat or similar crops for winter cover and soil improvement.
There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the past week. Topsoil moisture levels rated 16 percent very short, 34 percent short, 48 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 14 percent very short, 34 percent short, 51 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.
Eighty percent of the corn crop is now mature, 5 days behind last year but 6 days ahead of normal. Five percent of the corn crop has been harvested for grain or seed, behind 2010’s nine percent but equal to the five-year average. The moisture content of the corn left to harvest throughout othe State dropped 2 percent from previous week to an average of 27 percent, with the corn currently being harvested running 23 percent moisture content. Reports of moderate to heavy corn lodging declined from 18 to 14 percent as many farmers concentrate on harvesting damaged corn first. Ear droppage remains a larger problem than last year at this time, but only 7 percent of the crop is experiencing moderate to heavy ear droppage. Corn condition stands at 5 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.
Ninety-four percent of the soybean crop has turned color, equal to both last year and the five-year average. Over half of Iowa’s soybean fields are dropping leaves, but development still lags 6 days behind last year and normal. Just 3 percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, behind last year’s 7 percent and the normal 8 percent. Soybean lodging and shattering levels are nearly identical to last year at this time. Soybean condition stands at 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 48 percent good and 15 percent excellent.
Third cutting alfalfa hay harvest advanced to 96 percent complete, equal to last year’s pace but ahead of the normal 94 percent. The condition of the hay crop is reported at 8 percent very poor, 18 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 7 percent excellent.
Pasture and range condition rated 12 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Livestock conditions continue to be excellent.
IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist
The past reporting week began with mild weather with daytime highs mostly in the 70’s along with a few 80’s on Monday (19th) and Tuesday (20th). Keosauqua reported the highest temperature reaching 84 degrees on Tuesday. However, below normal temperatures were the rule for the rest of the week with highs mostly in the 60’s. Freezing temperatures were reported in some areas from Thursday (22nd) through Sunday (25th) with the most widespread cold coming on Friday (23rd) morning when temperatures fell to 28 degrees at Battle Creek and Sheldon. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 5.1 degrees below normal. Dry weather prevailed for most of the week. However, light rain showers were scattered over much of the state on Monday night into Tuesday and over northeastern Iowa on both Wednesday and Thursday. A few isolated thunderstorms were reported over the eastern one-quarter of the state on Saturday (24th) and Sunday (25th). There was no measurable rainfall across much of southern Iowa while Volga in Clayton County reported the most rain with 0.28 inch. The statewide average precipitation was only 0.05 inch while normal for the week is 0.75 inch. This was the seventh week of the past eight to bring less than normal rainfall.
