Rains finally fall in some areas

Nebraska

For the week ending June 18, most of the state received one to two inches of precipitation except for the Panhandle and southeast which received near a half inch, according to the Nebraska Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistic Service, June 19.

The rains improved topsoil moisture supplies but not before hot, dry conditions early in the week stressed dryland crops. Most crop conditions remained steady or declined slightly from last week, but all conditions remained well below last year.

Wheat conditions rated 26 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 16 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. This continues well below last year. Ninety percent of the Wheat was turning color ten days ahead of 52 percent last year and 51 percent average. Seventeen percent of the Wheat was ripe compared to 1 percent last year and 4 percent average. Harvest is expected to begin in the southern third of the state within the next three to five days.

Corn conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. This is below last year conditions.

Soybean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 9 percent excellent, which is below last year. Some soybean fields were being replanted due to poor stands.

Alfalfa first cutting continued to be about a week ahead of average and was 95 percent complete. This is well ahead of last year's 81 percent and average of 86 percent. Second cutting alfalfa was 9 percent complete compared to 5 percent last year and 3 percent average. Alfalfa conditions rated 6 percent very poor, 20 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 32 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. This rating is below last year.

Oat conditions rated 9 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 40 percent fair, and 29 percent good, which is well below last year. Oats headed was at 85 percent. This is ahead of last year's 77 percent and average of 73 percent.

Sorghum was 81 percent emerged. This is even with last year, but behind the average of 84 percent. Sorghum conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 5 percent excellent, which is below last year.

Dry bean planting was near 100 percent complete. This is nearly two weeks ahead of last year's 83 percent and average of 88 percent. Dry beans emerged was at 77 percent, well ahead of 37 percent last year and 50 percent average. Proso millet planted was 46 percent complete. This is ahead of last year's 32 percent but behind 51 percent average.

Pasture and range conditions showed some improvement and rated 14 percent very poor, 23 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 26 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.

Date: 6/21/06

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