Crop progress and pasture conditions

South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS – For the week ending May 3, 2015, above normal temperatures and minimal precipitation dominated the weather pattern throughout most of the State, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide, there were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 32 percent very short, 42 short, 26 adequate, and 0 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 25 percent very short, 45 short, 30 adequate, and 0 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn planted rated 51 percent, ahead of last year and the five-year average of 23. Emerged was 1 percent, ahead of 1 last year, but behind 2 average.

Soybeans planted rated 6 percent complete, ahead of 1 last year and 2 average.

Spring wheat planted rated 92 percent, well ahead of 57 last year and 60 average. Emerged was 56 percent, well ahead of 10 last year and 29 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 12 percent very poor, 27 poor, 41 fair, 20 good, and 0 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 14 percent, ahead of 3 last year.

Oats planted rated 92 percent, well ahead of 66 last year and 62 average. Emerged was 54 percent, well ahead of 24 last year and 31 average.

Barley planted rated 92 percent, well ahead of 40 last year and 45 average. Emerged was 37 percent, ahead of 1 last year and 17 average.

Sorghum planted rated 1 percent, equal to 1 last year and average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions were rated 9 percent very poor, 24 poor, 42 fair, and 23 good.

Stock water supplies rated 14 percent very short, 28 short, 57 adequate, and 1 surplus.

North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. – For the week ending May 3, 2015, spring fieldwork was active with good progress made on planting of spring crops, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rainfall was light and scattered, occurring mostly in eastern areas. Temperatures, which averaged four to six degrees above normal, aided emergence of small grains. Days suitable for fieldwork were 6.5. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 35 short, 58 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3 percent very short, 24 short, 70 adequate, and 3 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 9 poor, 36 fair, 49 good, and 5 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 22 percent, ahead of 1 last year.

Durum wheat planted was 26 percent, ahead of 1 last year and the five-year average of 13.

Spring wheat planted was 65 percent, well ahead of 5 last year and 27 average. Emerged was 16 percent, ahead of 0 last year and 9 average.

Barley planted was 54 percent, well ahead of 3 last year and 21 average. Emerged was 15 percent, ahead of 0 last year and 5 average.

Oats planted at 54 percent was well ahead of 6 last year and 22 average. Emerged was 16 percent, ahead of 0 last year and 6 average.

Corn planted was 50 percent, well ahead of 0 last year and 18 average.

Soybeans planted was 13 percent, ahead of 0 last year and 2 average.

Canola planted was 28 percent, ahead of 1 last year and 11 average.

Flaxseed planted was 9 percent, ahead of 0 last year, and near 7 average.

Dry edible peas planted was 51 percent complete, well ahead of 3 last year and 21 average. Emerged was 10 percent, ahead of 0 last year and 4 average.

Potatoes planted was 30 percent, ahead of 1 last year and 18 average.

Sugarbeets planted was 95 percent, well ahead of last year at 6 and 40 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 10 poor, 35 fair, 49 good, and 5 excellent

Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 9 short, 82 adequate, and 8 surplus.

Minnesota

Ideal conditions prevailed across Minnesota, allowing rapid planting progress during the 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending May 3, 2015, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was the most days suitable for fieldwork this season. Field activities for the week included planting, applying fertilizer, and tilling.

Farmers were concerned about dry soil conditions and the need for rain to help crop germination and pasture growth. Lack of significant precipitation caused topsoil moisture supplies to decline to 6 percent very short, 39 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 37 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.

Minnesota’s corn planting jumped to 83 percent complete, the second highest amount planted by this date in 30 years. Corn has started to emerge across the southern two-thirds of the state. Thirty-two percent of the soybean acreage has been planted, the most planted by this date in 30 years. All small grains were over 90 percent planted. Barley was 46 percent emerged, almost 4 weeks ahead of last year and 17 days ahead of the five-year average. Forty-eight percent of the oat acreage had emerged, just over 3 weeks ahead of last year. Fifty-four percent of the spring wheat acreage was emerged, 4 weeks ahead of the previous year, and almost 3 weeks ahead of average. Sugarbeet planting was virtually complete, the earliest this has happened in 30 years. Over three-quarters of expected potato acreage was planted. Sunflower and dry edible bean planting were underway.

Pasture condition rated 84 percent fair to excellent, up slightly from the previous week. Some farmers remained concerned about winterkill in alfalfa. Spring calving was reported to be going well. Producers were still concerned about the spread of Avian Influenza in both turkeys and chickens.

Iowa

Dry weather allowed Iowa farmers to make excellent progress in spring planting during the week ending May 3, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Although the primary activity during the week was planting, other activities included fertilizer and herbicide application, as well as seedbed preparation.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 11 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. North central Iowa reported the highest topsoil moisture level with 99 percent rated adequate to surplus, while southwest Iowa recorded the highest subsoil moisture at 97 adequate to surplus.

Over one-half of Iowa’s corn acreage was planted last week, the largest percentage planted during this week in over 20 years. Sixty-eight percent of the corn crop has been planted, 8 days ahead of last year and the 5-year average. Farmers in central Iowa led the way with 80 percent of their corn crop planted. Despite progress made in planting, corn emergence remains behind normal. Soybean planting reached 11 percent complete, 5 days ahead of 2014, and 4 days ahead of the average. Ninety-six percent of the oat crop has been planted, nearly 2 weeks ahead of last year, and 12 days ahead of normal. Oats emerged reached 63 percent, one week ahead of last year, and 4 days ahead of normal. Emergence continues to lag behind in north central and northeast Iowa, with only 55 and 50 percent of oats emerged, respectively.

Pasture condition improved to 64 percent good to excellent. Pastures are starting to come along with the warmer temperatures, though cool weather slowed growth throughout the beginning of the season. There were reports of cattle being turned onto pasture and spring calving nearing completion. Poultry producers are still concerned with the recent outbreak of avian influenza.

Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. — For the week ending May 3, 2015, spring fieldwork was in full swing until rain fell over eastern areas on Saturday and Sunday, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. An inch or more of rain was recorded in many east central and southeastern counties, while the remainder of the State remained mostly dry. Temperatures averaged three degrees above normal. Some producers finished corn planting and were turning their attention to soybeans. There were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 28 short, 60 adequate, and 4 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 12 percent very short, 27 short, 59 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn planted was at 57 percent, ahead of 41 last year and 38 for the five-year average. Emerged was at 9 percent, ahead of last year and average at 6.

Sorghum planted was at 11 percent, ahead of 3 last year and 2 average.

Soybeans planted was at 12 percent, near 10 last year and 9 average

Winter wheat condition rated 14 percent very poor, 19 poor, 32 fair, 33 good, and 2 excellent. Winter wheat jointed rated 52 percent complete, ahead of 19 last year and 34 average. Headed was at 3 percent, ahead of last year at 0, but equal to the five-year average.

Oats condition rated 3 percent very poor, 9 poor, 28 fair, 59 good, and 1 excellent. Oats emerged was at 84 percent, ahead of 69 last year and 59 average. Jointing was at 8 percent, ahead of 3 last year.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 7 percent very poor, 11 poor, 39 fair, 39 good, and 4 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 4 percent very short, 11 short, 84 adequate, and 1 surplus.