Crop Progress Report
July 23, 2007
Hot and Dry Weather Conditions Continue
Weather conditions continue to be hot and dry. According to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office, temperatures averaged two degrees above normal and three districts even saw highs in the 100’s. Several counties in the east and northeast part of the state received one to two inches of precipitation. The northwest region, however, has received only 61% of the normal precipitation since April 1, and it is classified as being in extreme drought.
Corn conditions remain above normal, rating 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 21 fair, 50 good, and 25 excellent. Irrigated fields rated 86 percent good or excellent, and dryland fields rated 59, both are above last year. The amount of corn silked was 79 percent which is ahead of last year and the average.
The following pictures are taken by FFA Chapters across the state representing each of the eight districts. They show the crop progress in each area and illustrate the differences in progress throughout the state of Nebraska.
The photo on the left shows the silks starting to turn brown and mature. When a plant matures, the pollen from the tassels on top of the plant falls on the silks to produce the corn kernels. This picture comes from a field near Loup City. To the right shows the maturing of the corn cob and kernels in a field close to Henderson. Leaves called husks grow around the cob to protect it.
The photos below were taken of corn fields near St. Paul in the central part of the state. The Central District averaged a half an inch of precipitation last week. They still remain above the normal amount of precipitation since April 1.
Both of the pictures below come from fields located in Lancaster County. The field on the left is in the northern part of the county, while the field on the right is to the south. Last year only 7.5% of the 120,000 acres of corn planted in Lancaster County were irrigated.
Ag Facts