Dry weather across the state last week allowed farmers to make good progress on corn and soybean harvests, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service crop report for the week ending October 29. Temperatures averaged near normal across western Nebraska, but two to five degrees below normal in the east. Some corn fields had stalk breakage and ear loss due to high winds.
Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1% very short, 13% short, 84% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 15% short, 80% adequate, and 2% surplus.
- Corn condition rated 3% very poor, 9% poor, 24% fair, 43% good, and 21% excellent. Corn harvested was 45%, well behind 66% last year and 67% for the five-year average.
- Soybeans harvested was 89%, equal to last year, and near the average of 93%.
- Winter wheat condition rated 3% very poor, 9% poor, 33% fair, 45% good, and 10% excellent. Winter wheat planted was 98%, near 100% last year and 99% average. Emerged was 88%, behind 95% last year, and near the five-year average of 91%.
- Sorghum condition rated 3% very poor, 2% poor, 17% fair, 51% good, and 27% excellent. Sorghum harvested was 47%, well behind 79% last year and 71% average.
- Alfalfa fourth cutting was 96% complete, ahead of 91% last year.
- Dry edible bean harvest was 96% complete.
- Proso millet harvest was 92% complete.
- Pasture and range conditions rated 3% very poor, 11% poor, 43% fair, 38% good, and 5% excellent.