Crop update: Nebraska corn harvest 29% complete

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said yesterday that 29 percent of Nebraska’s corn was in the bin – up 11 points from last week and more than triple the progress of last year's 9 percent. Harvest progress is also 8 points ahead of the five-year average.

USDA said 94 percent of Nebraska’s crop is mature. A year ago we were looking at a crop that was only 74 percent mature – and much of that corn had already been snowed on in several parts of the state. In fact, it was the first of several fall snows that blanked corn fields before harvest was complete.

This year, obviously, is much different. Should the weather hold, corn harvest will wrap up by the end of the month. Last year some farmers were harvesting in the snow. In January.

With 71 percent of the state’s soybeans already harvested, continued dry weather in the forecast and corn that is in good condition – without any need for drying – it is clear that the corn harvest will only pick up speed going forward.

This week's photos, from the Nebraska Corn Board's crop progress set on Flickr, feature photos submitted by the Howells Clarkson FFA Chapter, and the Sumner Eddyville Miller FFA Chapter (bottom).

For more details, be sure to check out the Nebraska Corn Board's crop progress update.