Crop Progress Report

September 17, 2007

Harvest is Just Around the Corner

Harvest will soon be in full swing. The cool and dry weather conditions brought much of the state’s corn crops closer to being ready for harvest, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. This past week, temperatures averaged 7 degrees below normal throughout the state. Precipitation ranged from .09 inches in the Northwest District to 1.27 inches in the Northeast District.

Corn in the dent stage is 98 percent, and 46 percent of corn is already mature. This is ahead of last year’s 38 percent and the 37 average. Four percent of the corn crop has already been harvested.

Corn conditions for the week ending September 16, 2007 were 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 15 fair, 50 good, and 30 excellent. This is well above last year’s 55 percent good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 86 percent good or excellent, and dryland fields rated 71 percent. These are both well above last year’s ratings as well.

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.

These pictures were taken near York in District 3. This corn is close to being ready for harvest. Harvest is in its early stages in the York area. Short season corn has approximately 22% moisture and other varieties are testing between 24-28%. The corn will be allowed to dry some in the field to reduce drying costs in the bin or at an elevator and to maintain quality.

The following pictures were all taken in the same field near Loup City in District 5. Farmers in the area are fixing machinery and making preparations for the upcoming harvest. As harvest approaches, it is interesting to reflect on the progress the field has made throughout the year. These pictures were taken May 14, June 22, July 20, and September 14 respectively.

AG FACTS

• In 1907, 96 million acres of corn were harvested that yielded an average of 27.2 bushels per acre which made total production 2.61 billion bushels of corn.
• Today, 100 years later, 85 million acres of corn will be harvested with an average yield of 155 bushels, producing 13.31 billion bushels of corn.
• One American farmer or rancher can now produce enough food to feed 129 people.