Crop Progress Report

May 14 , 2007

Producers Make Progress

After a slow start to the planting season due to above normal amounts of rain, producers made progress last week with the help of favorable planting conditions. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field office reported that last week was full of sunshine and above normal temperatures which helped producers speed up their progress. While some ground, especially the lowland in eastern Nebraska, was still too wet to plant, the warm temperatures helped already planted corn to emerge.

Temperatures last week ranged from highs in the lower 90’s to a few lows in the mid 30’s in the Panhandle. It was a much drier week, but all districts still have above average precipitation since April 1. Precipitation in the state ranged from 1.17 inches in the southeastern region to no rainfall in the northwest part of the state.

The amount of corn planted last week increased to 73 percent, but this is still behind last year’s 86 percent and the five-year average which is 79 percent. Corn emerged increased to 29 percent which is behind last year’s 31 percent.

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 all over the state of Nebraska.

The following pictures were taken in the Henderson area in the central part of Nebraska. This corn was planted approximately two weeks ago, but with temperatures in the 80’s last week accompanied by lots of sun, the crop has really taken off. Farmers in the area are about 90% done putting in their corn crop.

These photos were taken in District 1, the southeast region of the state. This corn was planted directly into last year’s soybean crop. This practice is known as no till planting. The reasons for this system include the retained moisture in the soil and the saved time of not disking the field. The crop residue also holds down the soil and prevents erosion.

Both of these photos were taken in the central region of Nebraska. These two fields both utilize a pivot system for irrigation. Pivots in central and southern parts of Nebraska were used this last week to soften the crusted soil and allow the corn to push its way through.

This is a picture of the Middle Loup River near Loup City, Nebraska. There is currently a good flow of water through this river. Water from this river is diverted into the Sherman Reservoir which is used for irrigation. The Sherman Reservoir helps irrigate 50,000 acres of Nebraska farmland.

Ag Facts

• Average planting dates in Nebraska range from April 15 to June 5, but the majority of Nebraska’s corn acres are planted between April 25 and May 20.

• Nebraska , along with Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, produces over 50% of the corn that is grown in the United States.

• In 2006, Nebraska produced 1.178 billion bushels of corn which is equivalent to 66 billion pounds of corn.