Nebraska corn crop behind average but ahead of last year

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said today that 9 percent of Nebraska’s corn crop is mature -- up 3 points from last week. While 14 points behind the five-year average, corn at this stage is actually 1 point ahead of last year’s crop at this time.

USDA said 85 percent of Nebraska's crop is dented, which 2 points ahead of last year and only 4 points behind the five-year average.

Nebraska corn in good to excellent condition reached 79 percent, with 14 percent of the crop being rated fair and only 7 percent poor to very poor. This is comparable with last year's crop condition at this time.

For more on Nebraska's crop, be sure to check out the Nebraska Corn Board's Crop Progress Update.

Nationally, 12 percent of the crop is mature -- compared to 17 percent last year and the five-year average of 37 percent.

USDA said 66 percent of the country's corn crop is dented, compared to 76 percent last year and 86 percent for the five-year average.

Certainly this year's corn crop is behind overall, but some heat over the next week will help -- and some farmers are hoping for a late frost.

For USDA's full report, click here.

This week's photo came to the Nebraska Corn Board from the Heartland FFA Chapter.