Nebraska Ag Connection - Humidity, Showers Hamper Nebraska Hay Harvest

Nebraska Ag News Headlines

Humidity, Showers Hamper Nebraska Hay Harvest
Nebraska Ag Connection - 07/27/2010

For the week ending Sunday, wheat harvest continued to move forward and was complete in all but Panhandle counties as limited precipitation allowed harvest to continue, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Row crop development was now ahead of last year and near average for most crops. Irrigation was underway but limited because of mostly adequate soil moisture supplies. In some cases, dryland fields were said to be indistinguishable from irrigated because of the ample precipitation. Storm damage was reported in portions of the state. Hay harvest continued to be a challenge with high humidity and showers hampering activities. Mild conditions over the weekend limited livestock stress.

Rainfall occurred statewide but totals varied greatly. Heaviest amounts of 4 or more inches were recorded mid-week in extreme northeastern counties. Temperatures for the week averaged 1 degree below normal with highs in the mid 90's and lows in the upper 50's.

Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 11 fair, 62 good, and 23 excellent. Irrigated fields were 83 percent good or excellent and dryland fields rated 87, both above year ago levels. Corn silked was 85 percent, ahead of last year's 74 and 79 average. Corn in the dough stage was 9 percent, near 7 last year and 11 average. Aerial spraying of fungicides was active.

Soybean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 3 poor, 14 fair, 61 good, and 20 excellent. Soybean acreage blooming was 73 percent, same as last year and near 75 average. Soybean acreage setting pods was 26 percent, ahead of 22 last year but behind 31 average.

Sorghum conditions rated 2 percent poor, 18 fair, 61 good, and 19 excellent. Sorghum headed was 21 percent, ahead of last year's 5 and 14 average.

Wheat ripe reached 95 percent, behind 98 last year and 99 average. Wheat harvested was 80 percent, near last year's 81 but four days behind 90 average.

Oats conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 1 poor, 10 fair, 63 good, and 25 excellent. Oats harvested was 54 percent complete, ahead of last year's 41 but behind the 67 average. Dry beans conditions rated 4 poor, 15 fair, 70 good, and 11 excellent. Dry bean acreage blooming was 67 percent, ahead of last year's 51 and 52 average. Acreage setting pods was 12 percent, near 11 last year and average.

Alfalfa rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 13 fair, 67 good, and 15 excellent. Second cutting of alfalfa was 83 percent complete, ahead of last year's 81 but behind 86 average. The third cutting of alfalfa was underway at 9 percent, ahead of 4 last year but near 8 average.

Wild hay conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 1 poor, 9 fair, 72 good, and 17 excellent. Wild hay harvested was 67 percent complete. Access to some fields has been difficult because of high water tables and wet conditions.

Pasture and range conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 6 fair, 74 good, and 19 excellent, well above year ago.