LINCOLN, Neb. – Weather slowed harvest activities in much of Nebraska last week amid reports the state’s corn crop was rated 80 percent good to excellent, according to the weekly Crop and Weather Reports from the USDA Agriculture Statistics Service.

For the week ending Oct. 14, there were just 1.3 days suitable for working in the fields. Across the state, topsoil moisture was rated at 70 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated at 76 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus.

The state’s corn crop was 95 percent mature, compared to the 91 percent both last year and this time of year over the five-year average, according to the reports. A quarter of the state’s corn had been harvested as of the report date, well ahead of last year’s 16 percent, and equal to the five-year average.

Winter wheat condition was rated at 21 percent fair, 45 percent good and 20 percent excellent on 89 percent planting reported. That compares to 85 percent planted at this time last year and 92 percent on average. Wheat was reported at 75 percent emerged, ahead of 65 percent last year and on pace with the five-year average of 74 percent.

Sorghum crops were reportedly 95 percent matured, ahead of both last year’s 90 percent and the five-year average of 91 percent. The crop was rated at 15 percent fair and 83 percent good to excellent, with 32 percent harvested, outpacing both the 22 percent at this time last year and the 27 percent, five-year average.

Pasture and range conditions were rated at 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 64 percent good and 12 percent excellent.

Harvest stalls as much-
needed moisture arrives

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Fall harvest and fieldwork stalled last week as rain and snow moved across areas of Colorado, bringing with it some much-needed moisture to areas reporting mostly only adequate topsoil and subsoil levels.

There were 3.8 days suitable for working in the fields last week, according to the Weekly Crop and Weather Report from the USDA. Topsoil moisture was rated 23 percent short and 70 percent adequate, with just 1 percent reporting an overabundance. That compares to 9 percent short and 87 percent adequate last year at this time and 27 percent short and 64 percent adequate averaged over the past five years.

Subsoil moisture on the period was reported at 28 percent short and 60 percent adequate, compared to 13 percent and 83 percent, respectively, last year. The five-year average is reported at 29 percent short and 59 percent adequate.

In northeastern and east central counties, reporters mentioned snow and rain delayed fieldwork but harvest of several crops continued as conditions allowed. Crops still to be harvested will dry down fast after the freezing temperatures last week, one reporter noted. Received moisture improved conditions for seeding winter wheat, as well as helping pasture conditions going forward. In southwestern counties, significant moisture was received that helped boost soil moisture supplies.

A reporter noted the moisture was enough to help perennial grasses green up after drought-induced dormancy, but a lot more moisture is needed for further recovery. Winter wheat planting was delayed due to wet field
conditions. 

In the San Luis Valley, little moisture was received last week and potato harvest continued to make progress. A reporter noted pasture grass was still short and producers were investigating ways to stretch their fall and winter hay supplies. In southeastern counties, a reporter noted up to 3-inches of moisture were received in areas, improving the outlook for pasture grass and fall seeded crops. Fieldwork stopped due to adverse conditions.

Statewide, corn was rated 68 percent good to excellent, compared with 84 percent rated good to excellent last year, with 85 percent of the crop matured and 29 percent harvested for grain. Stored feed supplies were rated 9 percent very short, 17 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. 

With 26 percent of the crop harvested, sugarbeets were rated 24 percent fair to 67 percent good to excellent. Winter wheat was rated 32 percent fair and 58 percent good to excellent, with 86 percent of the state’s crop planted and 66 percent emerged.

Fourth-cutting alfalfa hay was 59 percent harvested last week, comparted to 44 percent last year and 56 percent average over the past five years. Harvest was nearing completion on dry edible beans on the period, with 92 percent reported harvested, outpacing last year’s 82 percent and the 75 percent five-year average.

Sheep death loss was 70 percent average and 30 percent light. Cattle death loss was 2 percent heavy, 78 percent average, and 20 percent light.

Week-end storms bring frigid air, needed moisture

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Most of Wyoming experienced temperatures well below normal for the time of year last week as an early winter storm moved across the state, bringing with it some much-needed moisture, according to the weekly Crop Progress report from the Wyoming field office of the National Agriculture Statistics Service in Cheyenne.

There were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Oct. 14, compared to almost six days last year and averaged over the past five years. Topsoil moisture was reported at 54 percent short to very short and 46 percent adequate, while subsoil moisture was rated 60 percent short or very short and just 40 percent adequate.

All 33 Wyoming reporting stations reported below average temperatures for the week. The high temperature of 65 degrees was recorded at Lander and a low of 2 degrees was recorded at Laramie

and Yellowstone. Above normal moisture was reported at 22 of the 34 reporting stations. Cody reporting the least moisture at 0.02 inches. Buford reported the most moisture with 1.97 inches. 

A reporter from North Central Wyoming indicated pastures are showing a little green with the snow and moisture. A reporter from Southwestern Wyoming reported they received some snow and

cold temperatures during the past week. A reporter from Southeastern Wyoming stated they had received snow and temperatures in the teens. Another reporter from Southeastern Wyoming indicated the weather has been very cloudy, rainy, and they did get some snow. 

Irrigation water supply across Wyoming was rated 2 percent very short, 4 percent fair, and 94 percent good. Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 16 percent very short, 17 percent short, and 67 percent adequate.

With 92 percent of the corn crop matured, this year’s crop was rated 94 percent good to excellent. Some 20 percent of the corn harvested for grain was in the bins and 95 percent harvested for silage was out of the fields.

Harvest neared completion on dry beans, with 95 percent of this year’s crop harvested. About half the state’s sugarbeets have been harvested, rated at 89 percent good to 11 percent excellent. Livestock conditions across the state were ranked 80 percent good to excellent.