Nebraska Weather and Crops
Agricultural Summary: For the week ending July 8, 2012, crop conditions continued to decline with triple digit temperatures and limited precipitation, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Topsoil moisture levels declined to 14 percent adequate or surplus and have not been this low at this time since 2002. One half of the corn crop reached the pollination stage or beyond with the first fields reaching dough stage. Over one third of the soybean crop is blooming and setting pods has just begun. The first fields of sorghum have begun to head out. Wheat harvest was nearing completion, over 3 weeks ahead of average. Oat harvest, at 85 percent complete, had yet to start by this time last year. Producers continue to actively irrigate crops. Supplemental feeding of livestock was expanding as pasture conditions continue to decline. Some herds were being culled.
Weather Summary: The southern tier of counties in the Panhandle and the Southwest District received measureable rainfall with some locations accumulating over two inches. The remainder of the state saw little to no precipitation. Temperatures ranged from 6 degrees above normal in the Eastern two-thirds of the state to 2 degrees above normal in the Panhandle. Highs reached triple digits in many locations and lows were recorded in the mid 60’s.
6 last year and 14 average. Corn in the dough stage was 1 percent, compared to 0 last year and average. Corn conditions declined and rated 7 percent very poor, 13 poor, 33 fair, 40 good, and 7 excellent, well below last year’s 84 percent good to excellent and 81 average. Irrigated corn conditions rated 65 percent good to excellent and dryland corn rated 22.
Soybeans blooming were 37 percent, ahead of 16 last year and 23 average. Soybeans setting pods was 4 percent, ahead of 0 last year and 1 average. Soybean conditions rated 5 percent very poor, 14 poor, 40 fair, 38 good, and 3 excellent, well below last year’s 81 percent good to excellent and 79 average.
The second cutting of alfalfa was 86 percent complete, well ahead of 32 last year and 40 average. The third cutting of alfalfa was 12 percent complete compared to 0 last year and average. Alfalfa conditions declined and rated 23 percent very poor, 29 poor, 29 fair, 18 good, and 1 excellent, well below 84 percent good to excellent last year and 75 average.
Wheat ripe was 99 percent, compared to 30 last year and 46 average. Wheat harvested was 93 percent, compared to 8 last year and 23 days ahead of 19 average.
Oats harvested was 85 percent, compared to 0 last year and 6 average. Oats conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 18 poor, 39 fair, 41 good, and 0 excellent, well below 88 percent good to excellent last year and 84 average.
Dry beans blooming were 3 percent, ahead of 0 last year and 4 average. Dry bean conditions improved and rated 0 percent very poor, 6 poor, 42 fair, 52 good, and 0 excellent, but still well below 69 percent good to excellent last year and 70 average.
Sorghum headed was 1 percent. Sorghum conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 18 poor, 45 fair, 32 good, and 1 excellent, well below last year’s 82 percent good to excellent and 76 average.
Wild hay harvest was 60 percent complete, ahead of 45 last year and 17 average. Wild hay conditions declined and rated 10 percent very poor, 24 poor, 41 fair, 25 good, and 0 excellent, well below last year’s 77 percent good to excellent and 83 average.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 26 percent very poor, 33 poor, 28 fair, 13 good, and 0 excellent, well below 83 percent good to excellent last year and 80 average
© 2008-2013 agNET. All rights reserved
