Early Frost Threatens Late-Planted Crops

Oct 03, 2019

About half of the state’s corn crop, 48%, hasn’t reached maturity yet, according to a USDA crop report released this week. That’s far below the 82% maturity at this time last year. Soybeans crops are also about 15% behind last year.

"That means if there's an early frost, yields would be reduced," said Roger Elmore, Prof. of Agronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Frost is predicted Wednesday night for at least part of the state.

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for all of the panhandle and a frost advisory for much of central Nebraska.

But fields are in a much better place this week compared to last; the previous USDA report indicated only 37% maturity for corn.

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