Crop update: Nebraska's corn crop 12% harvested

In its weekly crop progress report today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said 12 percent of Nebraska's corn crop was in the bin as of yesterday. That's up from 7 percent last week -- and well ahead of the 1 percent harvested last year at this time and the 1 percent harvested for the five-year average.

USDA said 55 percent of the state's crop was mature, up from 36 percent last week and only 7 percent last year. The five-year average for this week is 13 percent mature.

It said 98 percent of the crop is dented, up from 93 percent last week, 85 percent last year and 83 percent for the average.

USDA rated 31 percent of Nebraska's corn crop in good to excellent condition, 26 percent was rated fair and 42 percent poor to very poor.

Nationally,15 percent of the country's corn crop is harvested, up from 10 percent last week. A year ago 5 percent of the crop was harvested by this date, which also matches the five-year average.

Harvested acres by state are shown in the chart, which was provided by Kelly Brunkhorst at the Nebraska Corn Board. Just click the image for a larger file.

USDA said 58 percent of the country's crop was mature, compared to 25 percent last year and 27 percent for the average. Corn dented stood at 93 percent, compared to 80 percent last year and 77 percent for the average.

As is typical for this time of year, crop conditions remained unchanged, with 21 percent of the nation's corn crop rated good to excellent, 26 percent fair and 52 percent poor to very poor.

If you were wondering, last year's crop at this point was rated 53 percent good to excellent, 27 percent fair and 20 percent poor to very poor.

As we continue with harvest, farmers would like to get the crop out of field and in the bin  -- but at the same time they'd like to see the drought break. The concern with getting a lot of rain and wind at this point is that the crop will be difficult to harvest because corn stalks may start leaning or giving way.

Breaking the drought and recharging soil moisture will be key heading into planting next spring. Perhaps some much needed moisture will come...but at this point, farmers may prefer to see it after harvest.