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Soil moisture declines, but still above averageNebraska For the week ending Aug. 24, another cool, dry week for much of Nebraska with fall like temperatures recorded in parts of the north, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office, Aug. 25. Soil moisture levels declined but are still above average for this time of year. Producers were busy irrigating, hauling grain, and preparing for fall harvest. Chopping of dryland corn for silage has begun in some areas. Temperatures averaged 3 degrees below normal across the state. Highs ranged from 82 to 94 across the state with lows ranging from 45 to 59. The South Central District averaged over an inch and a half of rain with the remainder of the state mostly dry. Corn conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 21 percent excellent, near last year's 77 percent good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 80 percent good or excellent below last year while dryland fields rated 69 percent, above year ago levels. Corn in the dough stage was 85 percent, behind last year's 92 percent and the 90 percent average. Corn in the dent stage was 42 percent, behind last year's 58 percent and four days behind the 51 percent average. Soybean conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 13 percent excellent, below last year's 78 percent good or excellent condition. Soybeans setting pods was 93 percent, behind last year's 96 percent and the 97 percent average. Aphids continue to be a problem in a number of fields. Alfalfa conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, above last year's 60 percent good or excellent condition. Third cutting was 69 percent complete, behind last year's 75 percent and 79 percent average. Sorghum conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 22 percent excellent, below last year's 81 percent good or excellent condition. Sorghum headed was 91 percent, behind last year's 97 percent and 92 percent average. Sorghum turning color was 17 percent, behind last year's 27 percent and five days behind the 29 percent average. Dry bean conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, below last year's 69 percent good or excellent condition. Dry beans setting pods were 98 percent, well ahead of last year's 85 percent and 89 percent average. Dry beans turning color was 6 percent, behind last year's 23 percent and 19 percent average. Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 8 percent excellent, near last year's 56 percent good or excellent condition. 9/1/08 Date: 8/27/08
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