Rains hinder fall harvest

Nebraska

For the week ending Sept. 17, rainfall over the eastern third of the state improved pastures but prevented fall harvest from getting underway, according to the Nebraska Field Office, National Agricultural Statistic Service, Sept. 18.

Hail, wind, and a couple of tornadoes were reported in east central counties with some crop damage reported. Crop maturity has slowed due to above normal rainfall since August 1. Corn harvest was limited to seed and high moisture uses. In the west, producers were seeding winter Wheat and harvesting proso millet.

Corn conditions rated 7 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 41 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Irrigated fields rated 75 percent good or excellent while dryland fields rated 28 percent, both below year ago levels. Ninety-seven percent of the corn had reached the dent stage, even with last year and ahead of the 93 percent average. Forty percent was mature, near last year's 42 percent and 41 percent average. Corn harvested was at 3 percent, near last year's 4 percent and 5 percent average.

Soybean conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 43 percent good, and 16 percent excellent, above last year. Soybeans turning color moved to 85 percent, behind last year's 94 percent and near the 84 percent average. Thirty-five percent were dropping leaves, well below last year's 57 percent and 45 percent average.

Alfalfa conditions continued to show improvement and rated 8 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. This rating continues to be below last year. Fourth cutting alfalfa increased to 50 percent complete, behind last year's 56 percent but ahead of the 40 percent average.

Sorghum conditions rated 5 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 15 percent excellent, below last year. Ninety-four percent of the sorghum planted was turning color, even with last year but ahead of the 84 percent average. Twenty-two percent was mature, behind last year's 26 percent and average of 27 percent.

Dry beans turning color rose to 92 percent, behind last year's 95 percent but ahead of the 87 percent average. Fifty-nine percent were dropping leaves, behind last year's 66 percent and average of 61 percent. Twenty-four percent of the dry beans had been harvested, behind last year's 26 percent and average of 27 percent. Dry bean conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.

Producers had 32 percent of the winter Wheat seeded. This is well behind last year's 47 percent and the 42 percent average. Five percent was emerged, behind 13 percent last year and average.

Proso millet was 25 percent harvested, well behind last year's 48 percent and average of 44 percent .

Pasture and range conditions continued to improve and rated 22 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 12 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.

Date: 9/20/06

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