Nebraska Weather and Crops

Agricultural Summary: For the week ending May 13, 2012, both planting and crop development continued ahead of average, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Due to limited rainfall, topsoil moisture levels dropped again below average causing some producers to start pivots. Corn planted advanced to 91 percent with over half of the crop emerged. Soybean planting was near two weeks ahead of average with 60 percent complete. One quarter of the sorghum crop was planted. Wheat jointed was 95 percent with half of the crop headed, 18 days ahead of average. The first cutting of alfalfa neared the half way point and was 3 weeks ahead of average. Planting of proso millet was underway.

Weather Summary: Temperatures averaged 3 degrees below normal across the state. High temperatures ranged from the upper 80’s to lows of upper 20’s in the Panhandle. Little or no precipitation fell across the state with the Southeast District receiving the largest amounts but only averaging .2 inch of rain.

Field Crops Report: Corn planting advanced to 91 percent complete, 1 week ahead of 76 last year and average. Corn emerged stood at 57 percent, well ahead of 16 last year and 23 average.

Soybean planting was 60 percent complete, ahead of 33 last year and 12 days ahead of 28 average. Soybeans emerged were 18 percent, ahead of 1 last year and 2 average.

Sorghum planting was 25 percent complete, ahead of 14 last year and 6 days ahead of 11 average. Sorghum emerged was 4 percent, ahead of 1 last year.

Oats emerged were at 93 percent, well ahead of 73 last year and 83 average. Oats conditions rated 2 percent poor, 21 fair, 73 good, and 4 excellent.

Wheat jointed was 95 percent, well ahead of last year’s 64 and 67 average. Wheat headed was 52 percent, ahead of 1 last year and 18 days ahead of 4 average. The impact of freezing temperatures on wheat in the northern Panhandle is not yet known. The cool and dry weather slowed the advancement of disease in parts of the South Central and Southeast Districts. Wheat conditions rated 3 percent poor, 29 fair, 57 good, and 11 excellent, above last year’s 47 percent good to excellent and 64 average.

The first fields of proso millet were planted.

The first cutting of alfalfa was 44 percent complete, well ahead of 1 last year and 19 days ahead of 2 average. Concerns were expressed over insect activity. Alfalfa rated 4 percent poor, 24 fair, 56 good, and 16 excellent, near last year’s 71 percent good to excellent and 74 average.

Wild hay conditions rated 1 percent poor, 23 fair, 73 good, and 3 excellent, above last year’s 45 percent good to excellent.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent poor, 32 fair, 60 good, and 6 excellent, compared to last year’s 63 percent good to excellent and 70 average.