Weather hampers hay, crop progress

Nebraska

For the week ending Sept. 7, a cool, damp week slowed crop maturation and hampered producers trying to put up hay, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office, Sept. 8.

Producers were wrapping up irrigation for the season as well as preparing machinery and bins for harvest. The first fields of dry beans and proso millet were being harvested in the west. Corn silage continued to be cut around the state.

Temperatures averaged 8 degrees below normal across the state. A few districts saw highs in the lower 90s and parts of the west and north reported lows in the upper 30's. Precipitation averaged at least three quarters of an inch across the state.

Corn conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 21 percent excellent, below last year's 79 percent good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 79 percent good or excellent below year ago levels, while dryland fields rated 69 percent, the same as last year. Corn in the dough stage was 94 percent, behind last year's 99 percent and the 98 percent average. Corn in the dent stage was 70 percent, behind last year's 89 percent and six days behind the 83 percent average. Corn mature was 5 percent, behind the 23 percent of last year and 16 percent average. Soybean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 13 percent excellent, well below last year's 80 percent good or excellent condition. Soybeans turning color was 27 percent, behind last year's 42 percent and 3 days behind the 46 percent average. Soybeans dropping leaves was 3 percent, behind last year's 5 percent and 9 percent average.

Alfalfa conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 10 percent excellent, even with last year's 63 percent good or excellent condition. Third cutting was 93 percent complete, near last year's 91 percent and 94 percent average. Fourth cutting was 7 percent complete, behind last year's 21 percent and 22 percent average.

Sorghum conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 22 percent excellent, well below last year's 85 percent good or excellent condition. Sorghum turning color was 45 percent, behind last year's 78 percent and eight days behind the 67 percent average.

Dry bean conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 11 percent excellent, well below last year's 71 percent good or excellent conditions. Dry beans turning color was 75 percent, behind last year's 84 percent but ahead of the 68 percent average. Dry beans dropping leaves was 19 percent, behind last year's 51 percent and 32 percent average. Dry beans harvested were 3 percent, behind last year and the average of 7 percent.

Wheat seeded was 6 percent complete, behind last year and average of 13 percent.

Proso millet was 5 percent harvested, behind last year's 11 percent and 17 percent average.

Pasture and range conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 7 percent excellent, below last year's 60 percent good or excellent condition.

9/15/08
4 Star NE\6-B

Date: 9/10/08

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