Crop Progress and Pasture Conditions

South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS – For the week ending November 16, 2014, snowfall and well below normal temperatures dominated the weather pattern across most areas of the state, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide, there were 3.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 20 short, 75 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 20 short, 75 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 26 fair, 58 good, and 11 excellent. Emerged was 95 percent, equal to last year, but ahead of the five-year average of 88.

Corn harvested was 92 percent, ahead of 87 last year and average of 83.

Sorghum harvested was 95 percent, ahead of 87 last year, but near 93 average.

Sunflowers harvested was 80 percent, well ahead of 61 last year, but near 82 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 9 poor, 32 fair, 49 good, and 8 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 7 percent very short, 15 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. – For the week ending November 16, 2014, progress was slow, but harvest of corn and sunflowers continued as weather permitted, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Varying amounts of snowfall were reported last week with temperatures averaging 15 to 25 degrees below normal, putting an end to fall tillage activities. Livestock producers continued weaning or marketing calves. Some producers moved livestock to harvested corn fields when possible, while others were prompted to start supplemental feeding. Statewide, there were 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 15 short, 78 adequate, and 6 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 9 short, 83 adequate, and 7 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 32 fair, 58 good, and 7 excellent.

Corn harvest advanced to 85 percent complete, ahead of 76 for both last year and the five-year average.

Sunflower harvest was 82 percent complete, well ahead of 60 last year, but near 81 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 8 poor, 25 fair, 55 good, and 11 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 6 short, 83 adequate, and 10 surplus.

Minnesota

Despite a winter storm and cold temperatures, Minnesota farmers used the 2.7 days suitable for fieldwork to advance corn and sunflower harvest during the week ending November 16, 2014, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The snow storm halted harvesting progress for some farmers, thus leaving standing corn that may have to wait till spring to be harvested. Livestock across much of the state have been moved to winter dry lots. The sudden change in temperatures caused respiratory sickness in some cattle.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 79 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 18 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.

Ninety-five percent of Minnesota’s corn acreage was harvested, 11 days ahead of normal. Ninety-five percent of Minnesota’s sunflower acreage was harvested, 9 days ahead of normal.

Iowa

Iowa farmers used the 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork to harvest one-tenth of the state’s corn crop during the week ending November 16, 2014, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Cold temperatures and snow halted most other activities during the week, but some corn stalks were baled, and manure hauled.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 88 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus.

Ninety-two percent of Iowa’s corn acreage was harvested, equal to 2013 but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. This was the first time this season that corn harvest was ahead of the normal pace. Corn harvest in south central Iowa continued to trail behind the rest of the state with only 79 percent complete. Soybean harvest was nearing completion with 98 percent of the acreage harvested.

Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 48 percent moderate to heavy, dropping 12 percentage points from the previous week. Off-farm grain storage availability was rated at 84 percent adequate to surplus. On-farm grain storage availability was 79 percent adequate to surplus.

Hay and roughage supplies were estimated at 97 percent adequate to surplus. Cold and snowy conditions tested livestock, and some farmers have started to feed hay.

Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. – For the week ending November 16, 2014, unseasonably cold conditions engulfed the state with snow late in the period slowing final harvest activities, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Temperatures averaged 15 to 20 degrees below normal. Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches were common across the eastern half of the state with larger amounts in northern areas. Livestock producers worked to get animals in protected areas as the cold temperatures arrived. There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 7 percent very short, 31 short, 61 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 30 short, 61 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat conditions rated 0 very poor, 2 poor, 20 fair, 69 good, and 9 excellent.

Corn harvested was 91 percent, near 90 last year and 87 for the five-year average.

Sorghum harvested was 93 percent, near 96 last year, but ahead of 87 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 5 poor, 32 fair, 54 good, and 5 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 7 short, 91 adequate, and 1 surplus.