Snow Already Falling in Nebraska

A beautiful Nebraska sunset over a harvested field.

For the week ending November 10th, snow fell in some western counties and rain fell in the eastern part of the state, limiting harvest progress. Grain moisture levels remained above safe storage levels in a number of counties. Most of the remaining unharvested acres are found in the northern districts. Statewide, producers had 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 24 percent short/very short, 75 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 46 percent short/very short, 54 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.

Corn harvested was 81 percent, which is well behind last year’s 100 percent, but still ahead of the national average of 76 percent.

To view all crop progress photos submitted this week please visit our Flickr and Pinterest page!

As the demand for more food grows each day so does the size of equipment farmers use.

Harvest Continues...Slow and Steady

Nebraska's Gold!

For the week ending on October 27, 2013 the state welcomed drier weather. Farmers were busy in the fields harvesting corn and soybeans. Even with this drier weather, crops are still struggling to dry down because of the cooler than average weather we are experiencing. The combination of moisture and cool temperatures is continuing to drag out the harvest season.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 35 percent short/very short, 64 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 55 percent short/very short, 45 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

All corn conditions rated 7 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. For irrigated corn, conditions rated 81 percent good or excellent. Dryland corn rated 49 percent good or excellent.

Corn mature was 97 percent which is behind last year’s 100 percent but near the national average of 95 percent. Corn harvested was 55 percent, well behind 93 percent last year and equal to the average nationwide.

To view all crop progress photos please visit Flickr or Pinterest!

Sunsets on the farm during harvest season are incredible.

Wet Week

Due to the continued Federal government shut down we can not provide you with an official crop progress report from USDA. However, in our best attempts to keep this page updated here is a short summary of what happened the past week in Nebraska.

Corn continues to look somewhat green due to all the recent rains

Wet conditions across most of the state made corn harvest challenging. Nebraska farmers were in and out of the fields working diligently to get this year’s crop harvested and stored in the bins. Even though the wet conditions are proving to put a stress on crop harvest, it is hard to complain about the recent rains after the drought we have experienced. Hopefully all this moisture will help replenish the groundwater we have used the past two years. Needless to say harvest is progressing…maybe that is all we actually need to know.

All crop progress photos can be viewed at Flickr or Pinterest. 

Warm and Windy Start for Harvest

Corn Silage is being harvested and will be fed to cattle.

For the week ending September 29, 2013 warm, and windy conditions were again experienced. Rainfall also occurred across most of the panhandle and central Nebraska counties. Widespread corn harvest was limited due to the rains which are continuing to cause high grain moisture levels. Statewide producers had 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 52 percent short/very short, 48 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 70 percent short/very short, 30 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.

All corn conditions came in at 8 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Irrigated corn rated 82 percent good/excellent, which is higher than the 75 percent average. Dryland corn conditions rated 39 percent good or excellent, this is lower than the 57 percent average. Mature corn was 64 percent, which is well behind 92 percent last year but near the 66 percent average. Corn harvested was 9 percent which is well behind 51 percent last year and this years 16 percent average.

To view all crop progress photos visit our Flickr and Pinterest sites!

This ear of corn will be ready to harvest soon.

Temperatures Still Above Normal

This corn is almost ready for harvest

For the fourth week in a row temperatures averaged above normal. Rainfall was expected across most of the state but came to late to boost dryland crops. Corn silage harvest was active in many areas and harvest of high moisture corn for feedlots has started statewide. All together producers had 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 60 percent short/very short, 40 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated72 percent short/very short, 28 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. All corn conditions rated 7 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Irrigated corn conditions rated 81 percent good or excellent, higher than the 76 percent average. Dryland corn conditions came in at 36 percent good or excellent, compared to 59 percent average.

Leaves are drying out in the fields

Corn dented was 91 percent which is behind last years 100 percent but near the 92 percent average. Corn mature was 16 percent, behind 71 percent last year and 29 percent average. Corn harvested was 2 percent, behind 21 percent last year and 5 percent average.

To view all crop progress photos submitted this week visit our Flickr or Pinterest pages!

Why So Hot?

Corn kernels are starting to dent

For the week ending September 1st, temperatures were well above normal combined with limited rainfall. This further reduced soil moisture supplies and stressed dryland crops. According to USDA's NASS pockets of rain occurred during the week, but no wide spread rainfall was received in Nebraska.

Over half the corn crop has reached the dent stage. Statewide producers had 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 64 percent short/very short, 36 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels came in at 74 percent short/very short, 26 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Corn is still around 7 feet tall!

All corn conditions rated 6 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 19 percent excellent. Irrigated corn conditions were 82 percent good or excellent, compared to the 75 percent average. Dryland corn rated 39 percent good or excellent which is considerably lower than the 58 percent average. Corn in dough was 93 percent, behind 100 percent last year but near the 95 percent average this year. Corn dented was 51 percent, behind 91 percent last year and the 70 percent average this year. Corn mature was 1 percent, well behind 34 percent last year and 9 percent average this year.

To view all crop progress photos please visit our Flickr and Pinterest sites!

Cool Temperatures In Mid August?

Kernels are turning a darker yellow

For the week ending August 18, 2013 most of Nebraska saw cool temperatures. Crop reports indicated that in many areas of the state warmers temperatures are needed to advance crop maturity. Statewide producers had 4.9 days considered suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 44 percent short/very short, 55 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 64 percent short/very short, 36 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.

All corn conditions rated 5 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Irrigated corn rated 79 percent good or excellent which is higher than the 75 percent average. Dryland corn rated 45 percent good or excellent compared to 59 percent average. Corn in dough was 69 percent which is behind last years 92 percent and 78 percent average.

Corn is over 7 feet tall!

Corn dented was 11 percent, well behind last years 65 percent and 33 percent average.

Be sure to check out all photos submitted this week on our Flickr and Pinterest pages!

A Cold and Wet Start to August

Most corn is over 6 feet tall now

A large portion of the state received an inch or more of rain this last week and with this rain came unseasonably low temperatures. Portions of the extreme southeast saw 3 or more inches of rainfall while the southern Panhandle counties continued to be mostly dry. As a result of the rain stress was reduced on growing crops. Statewide producers had 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork and pollination started coming to a close.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 49 percent short/very short, 49 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 70 percent short/very short, 30 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.

All corn conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Irrigated corn rated 85 percent good or excellent compared to the 76 percent average. Dryland corn rated 43 percent good or excellent compared to the 62 percent average. Corn silking was 93 percent completed which is behind last years 99 percent but near the 95 percent average. Corn in dough was 14 percent, well behind 71 percent last year and this years 37 percent average.

This is a picture of adventitious roots!

All crop progress photos can be viewed at Flickr and Pinterest.

Soil Moisture Continues to Decrease

This corn is fully tasseled.

Yet another week with low precipitation levels stressed dryland corn and forced irrigation to be taking place statewide. USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported pockets of rain occurring early and late in the week but no general rainfall was received this week as crops neared peak moisture demands. Statewide producers had 6.6 days considered suitable for field work.

Topsoil moisture supplies declined and rated 26 percent very short, 44 percent short, 30 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies declined this week as well rating 35 percent very short, 40 percent short, 25 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.

All corn conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 50 percent good, and only 16 percent excellent. For irrigated corn only conditions rated 82 percent good or excellent, compared to the 75 percent average. For dryland corn conditions rated 45 percent good or excellent, compared to 68 percent average. The poorest dryland conditions were reported in South Central counties.

Corn silking was reported 50 percent complete which is well behind last years 85 percent average.

To view all crop progress photos submitted this week visit our Flickr and Pinterest pages. 

An up close view of corn tassels.

Corn crop conditions rate high; rainfall needed in much of the state

Clear skies and sunshine boosted row crop development this past week, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

This corn field near Sumner is almost completely canopied. 

Much of the state saw little or no rainfall with topsoil moisture supplies declining as seasonally hot temperatures returned later in the week. Spring-planted, dryland crops in much of the western two-thirds of the state were showing signs of stress.

Statewide, producers had 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 14 percent very short, 39 short, 46 adequate, and 1 surplus, well above previous year. Statewide, subsoil moisture supplies rated 25 percent very short, 35 short, 40 adequate, and 0 surplus.

We laid out pipe this past week for irrigation, but also
received 0.3 inches of rain Sunday evening.

All corn conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 19 fair, 56 good, 20 excellent. Irrigated corn conditions rated 83 percent good or excellent, compared to 77 average. Dryland corn conditions rated 66 percent good or excellent, compared to 71 average. Corn silking was 1 percent complete, behind 46 last year and 16 average.

All crop progress photos can be viewed at Pinterest or Flickr. 

Moisture Levels Continue to Improve



This corn plant is over 3 feet tall!







 Rain across most of the state combined with above average temperatures to boost the growth of crops this past week. Some portions of the state recorded 2 or more inches of rainfall but most totals were less than that. A high number of storms popped up throughout Nebraska but most were extremely localized. There were reports of hail damage in a number of counties and high winds during the day made herbicide application challenging.



 

The next leaf is starting to develop
on this corn plant.

Temperatures were 3 to 5 degrees above normal in the east and south parts of the state but were near normal elsewhere. Statewide there was 5.7 days considered suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 33 percent short/very short, 65 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. This is well above the moisture ratings from last year. However very short moisture conditions continue to exist in parts of South Central, Southwest, and Northwestern Nebraska. Subsoil moisture supplies ranked 54 percent short/very short, and 46 percent adequate.

Corn conditions rated 3 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 15 percent excellent.

All crop progress photos can be viewed at Pinterest or Flickr.





Corn Belt turns to ‘Snow Belt’

“What early spring?” asked Drovers CattleNetwork. As it turns out, famed forecaster Punxatawney Phil was wrong this year – very wrong.

During a month better known for grilling and shorts weather, a spring-time winter storm fueled by a powerful cold front is setting up to produce rare weather conditions across much of the western Corn Belt – snow.

The National Weather Service forecast up to two feet of snow in the Rockies with several inches of snow expected in a band that stretches from Texas to Wisconsin, according to NBC News.

Snow is only half of the equation. In parts of Texas, the front is expected to bring wild temperature swings. On Tuesday, the mercury in Amarillo reached a balmy 97 degrees. Less than 48 hours later, on Thursday morning, meteorologists anticipate a 67-degree drop.

“By tomorrow morning we have … Amarillo at 30 and probably snowing,” Weather Channel meteorologist Kevin Roth said.

Just how rare is this May snowstorm? Wunderground.com looked at other notable May snowstorms:

• Amarillo recorded than 7 inches of snow on May 6, 1917, and on May 2, 2005 the city saw nearly 5 inches of snow.   
• Minneapolis, Minn., has seen just six snow days in May since 1975, the top being May 11, 1946 when 2.8 inches fell.
• Chicago has only had two one inch snow events in May since 1884.
• Omaha, Neb., has recorded four days with measurement snow in May since 1881.
• Des Moines, Iowa, had two separate snows in 1907 on May 4 and May 15. It also snowed on May 3, 1917.
• Kansas City, Mo., reported one measurement snow in May on May 3, 1907 when 1.7 inches fell on the city.

Click here for other May snow facts.

"It is very difficult to get a major snowstorm in the lower elevations of the U.S. in May," said Weather Channel meteorologist Nick Wiltgen. "Even on May 1 you're only seven weeks away from the summer solstice, and with that comes strong sun and long days adding heat to the atmosphere.

How is this affecting corn planting in Nebraska? Well, it’s halted right now for sure. The freeze and heavy moisture brings with it even more anxious farmers. Last Monday, Henderson, Nebraska farmer, Michael Bergen posted this picture on Facebook as he was excited to get into the field.

Henderson is a different sight today with snow and ice. Just done the road from Bergen, Curt Friesen tweeted this picture.

Outlook for Nebraska's 2013 corn crop

The outlook for the 2013 corn crop in Nebraska is much brighter these days, thanks to good precipitation in recent weeks. Now it’s a matter of getting that crop in the ground.

Speaking with Brownfield on Wednesday, Nebraska Corn Board executive director Don Hutchens says it just needs to warm up.

“I think the ground temperature today is running in the low 40’s—and so it’s going to have to warm up,” says Hutchens. “But once the farmers get in the fields, it can happen very quickly.”

In 2012, Hutchens says, Nebraska farmers planted 70 percent of the corn crop in a three-week period.

“So if you look at what we planted last year—70 percent of that crop in three weeks—we literally can plant the whole corn crop in four weeks, if need be.” The March planting intentions report showed Nebraska farmers will plant 9.9 million acres of corn this year, down one percent from last year.

LISTEN to the audio podcast from Don.

Nebraska corn farmers investing nearly $3 billion to plant 9.9 million acres

Nebraska’s corn farmers intend to plant 9.9 million acres of corn this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said yesterday.

It takes about $280 per acre to get the corn crop planted and off to a good start, meaning Nebraska corn farmers plan to invest nearly $2.8 billion this spring.

“Farmers make this multi-billion dollar investment every spring in the hope of producing more corn per acre, as they strive to improve every year,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, the Nebraska Corn Board’s director of research.

Good prices are the market signal for more corn acres, yet planting numbers can change depending on springtime weather. Last year’s March estimate, for example, was higher than previous years’ planted acres which came in at 10 million acres, the most since 1933.

Nationally, USDA said farmers intend to plant 97.3 million acres this year, up slightly from last year’s 97.1 million acres. If realized, it will be the most planted acres in the United States since 1936 when an estimated 102 million acres were planted.

“On the top of farmer’s minds is getting this year’s crop into the ground, but the below normal temperatures and lingering drought will probably delay this year’s start to the planting season,” Brunkhorst said.  “This is completely opposite of the situation farmers faced last year.” 

Historically in Nebraska, farmers begin planting in mid-April and wrap up as quickly as possible in May.

On average, farmers spend about $280 per acre to get the crop in the ground and off to a good start, based on estimates calculated by the University of Nebraska Extension. Multiplied by the 9.9 million acres USDA estimates Nebraska farmers will plant this year; provides the nearly $2.8 billion investment by the state’s corn farmers. That figure does not include land costs, labor or equipment – it’s purely inputs like seed and fertilizer.

“Those are the things farmers buy every year from their cooperative or other companies,” Brunkhorst said. “If you figure a 2.5 multiplier, the full economic impact of planting reaches some $7.0 billion. Yet the economic value of that crop is even greater, when harvested and that corn is converted to meat, milk and eggs, ethanol, distillers grains, bioplastics and more. Corn is the foundation for all of that, so getting the crop in the ground and off to a good start this spring is critical. Then it’s up to the weather through the growing season to harvest.”

USDA today also reported corn stocks, or the amount of corn in storage in Nebraska and across the country. Nationally, stocks as of March 1 were 5.4 billion bushels, down 10 percent from last year.

In Nebraska, there were 589.7 million bushels in storage as of March 1, 14 percent less than a year ago. Of that, 285 million bushels were stored on farms, and 304.7 million were stored off-farm.