Weather stresses dryland crops, livesock

Nebraska

For the week ending Aug. 3, hot, dry conditions allowed producers to wrap-up wheat harvest but the weather stressed dryland crops and livestock, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office, Aug. 4.

Producer activities across the state included irrigation, spraying for mid-summer pests, and harvesting hay, oats, and wheat. Livestock producers worked to limit heat stress on livestock.

Temperatures averaged 3 degrees above normal across the state with many districts recording triple digit heat. The Panhandle and Southwest Districts saw just over a half of inch of precipitation, while the rest of the state remained fairly dry.

Corn conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 17 percent excellent, even with last year's 75 percent good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 77 percent good or excellent well below last year while dryland fields rated 73 well above year ago levels. Corn silked was 92 percent, behind last year's 96 percent and the average of 95 percent. Corn in the dough stage was 20 percent, behind last year's 42 percent and five days behind the average of 33 percent.

Soybean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 61 percent good, and 14 percent excellent, above last year's 70 percent good or excellent condition. Soybeans blooming were 83 percent, behind last year's 90 percent and five days behind the average of 92 percent. Soybeans setting pods was 37 percent, behind last year's 57 percent and six days behind the average of 58 percent.

Wheat harvested was virtually complete at 98 percent, near last year's 100 percent and the average of 99.

Alfalfa conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 24 fair, 58 good, and 12 excellent, well above last year's 57 percent good or excellent condition. Second cutting was 92 percent complete, behind last year's 99 percent and average of 97 percent. Third cutting was 12 percent complete, behind last year's 35 percent and 30 percent average.

Wild hay conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 24 percent excellent, well above last year's 70 percent good or excellent condition. Oats harvested was 86 percent, five days behind last year and the average of 92 percent.

Sorghum conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 13 percent excellent, below last year's 82 percent good or excellent condition. Sorghum headed was 18 percent, behind last year's 46 percent and eight days behind the average of 47 percent. Dry bean conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 6 percent excellent, below last year's 70 percent good or excellent condition. Dry beans blooming were 87 percent, well ahead of last year's 75 percent and the average of 78 percent. Dry beans setting pods were 37 percent, well ahead of last year's 26 percent but behind the 40 percent average.

Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 13 percent excellent, well above last year's 56 percent good or excellent condition.

8/11/08
4 Star NE\6-B

Date: 8/6/08

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