Crop progress and pasture conditions

South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS – For the week ending May 10, 2015, one to five inches of rain were received throughout the State, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The rainfall helped replenish topsoil moisture supplies. The eastern portion of the State had above normal temperatures, while the western half was below normal. Statewide, there were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 10 percent very short, 32 short, 51 adequate, and 7 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 17 percent very short, 42 short, 39 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn planted rated 76 percent, well ahead of 48 last year and the five-year average of 44. Emerged was 22 percent, well ahead of 4 last year and 8 average.

Soybeans planted rated 31 percent complete, ahead of 12 last year and 9 average.

Spring wheat planted rated 96 percent, ahead of 73 last year and 78 average. Emerged was 74 percent, well ahead of 42 last year and 44 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 13 percent very poor, 28 poor, 39 fair, 20 good, and 0 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 33 percent, well ahead of 3 last year.

Oats condition rated 0 percent very poor, 9 poor, 28 fair, 57 good, and 6 excellent. Oats planted rated 96 percent, well ahead of 72 last year and 79 average. Emerged was 71 percent, well ahead of 26 last year and 43 average.

Barley planted rated 97 percent, well ahead of 49 last year and 62 average. Emerged was 62 percent, well ahead of 6 last year and 27 average.

Sorghum planted rated 4 percent, near 2 last year and 1 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions were rated 8 percent very poor, 23 poor, 41 fair, 26 good and 2 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 14 percent very short, 26 short, 59 adequate, and 1 surplus.

North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. – For the week ending May 10, 2015, needed precipitation was received over much of the state, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Most of the state received half an inch to two inches of moisture with some isolated reports of three to four inches. Some planting of crops did occur the beginning of the week but was halted once the rainfall started. Overall, temperatures for the week were near normal. The recent moisture had producers optimistic for good seed germination once the weather turns warmer. However, there were concerns in some areas that crops may need to be replanted because of excess moisture. Days suitable for fieldwork were 4.0. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 18 short, 75 adequate, and 6 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 17 short, 76 adequate, and 5 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 9 poor, 36 fair, 50 good, and 4 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 32 percent, well ahead of 7 last year.

Durum wheat planted was 46 percent, well ahead of 1 last year and the five-year average of 19. Emerged was 4 percent, ahead of 0 last year, but behind 8 average.

Spring wheat planted was 82 percent, well ahead of 10 last year and 37 average. Emerged was 37 percent, well ahead of 1 last year and 17 average.

Barley planted was 76 percent, well ahead of 6 last year and 29 average. Emerged was 35 percent, well ahead of 1 last year and 12 average.

Oats condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 18 fair, 66 good, and 10 excellent. Oats planted at 72 percent was well ahead of 15 last year and 33 average. Emerged was 27 percent, well ahead of 2 last year and 13 average.

Corn planted was 64 percent, well ahead of 3 last year and 29 average. Emerged was 6 percent, ahead of 0 last year, and near 5 average.

Soybeans planted was 24 percent, well ahead of 0 last year and 8 average.

Canola planted was 47 percent, well ahead of 2 last year and 22 average.

Sunflowers planted was 6 percent, ahead of 0 last year and 2 average.

Flaxseed planted was 27 percent, well ahead of 1 last year and 12 average.

Dry edible peas planted was 72 percent complete, well ahead of 6 last year and 29 average. Emerged was 22 percent, well ahead of 0 last year and 10 average.

Dry edible beans planted was 2 percent, ahead of 0 last year, and near 3 average.

Potatoes planted was 44 percent, well ahead of 2 last year and 25 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 9 poor, 37 fair, 45 good, and 8 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 0 percent very short, 9 short, 81 adequate, and 10 surplus.

Minnesota

Despite only 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork, Minnesota farmers planted soybeans at a near record pace during the week ending May 10, 2015, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities for the week included planting, as well as applying fertilizer and herbicides.

Recent precipitation helped improve soil moisture conditions. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 4 percent very short, 32 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.

With Minnesota’s corn planting nearing completion, 39 percent of the corn crop had emerged, the second most in 30 years. Over one-third of the soybean acreage was planted during the week ending May 10, tied for the most planted in this week in 30 years. Soybean planting now stands at 70 percent complete, the most planted by this date in 30 years. Small grain seeding was almost complete. Barley was 78 percent emerged, well ahead of last year when none of the crop had emerged by this date and just over 3 weeks ahead of the five-year average. Seventy-seven percent of the oat acreage had emerged, just over 3 weeks ahead of last year. The first oat condition rating of the year was estimated at 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 70 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Eighty-two percent of the spring wheat acreage was emerged, 31 days ahead of the previous year. The first spring wheat condition was rated at 0 percent very poor, 1 percent fair, 38 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. Potato, sunflower, and dry edible bean planting now stand at the highest percent planted for week ending May 10 in 30 years.

The first all hay condition rating of the year was estimated at 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Some farmers remained concerned about winterkill in alfalfa. Pasture condition rated 88 percent fair to excellent, up 4 percentage points from the previous week. Spring calving was reported to be going well with dryer than normal lots. Producers were still concerned about the spread of Avian Influenza in both turkeys and chickens.

Iowa

After the previous week’s near-record corn planting, wet weather hindered spring planting during the week ending May 10, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were only 2.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Operators in eastern Iowa reported weeds were getting ahead of the sprayers as they were unable to get into the fields. Activities during the week included planting, fertilizer and herbicide application, and seedbed preparation.

Topsoil moisture levels rated to 0 percent very short, 7 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. North central and southwest Iowa reported the highest topsoil levels with 99 percent rated adequate to surplus, and southwest Iowa also reported the highest subsoil moisture level at 98 percent rated adequate to surplus.

Eighty-three percent of the corn crop has been planted, approximately one week ahead of both last year and 5-year average. Southwest Iowa lagged behind, with just 64 percent planted, compared to the highest district, northwest Iowa, where 96 percent of the corn was in the ground. Corn emerged reached 29 percent, just over one week ahead of last year. Corn emergence was described as excellent with reports of high stand counts in some areas. Soybean planting reached 30 percent complete, 5 days ahead of 2014, and 3 days ahead of the average. Ninety-eight percent of the oat crop has been planted, 10 days ahead of last year, and one week ahead of normal. Oats emerged reached 83 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of normal. The season’s first oat condition ratings came in at 0 percent very poor, 0 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 68 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.

Limited progress has been made on the first cutting of alfalfa hay due to the cool wet weather. The first hay condition rating of the season was 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Pasture condition improved to 67 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as mostly normal with continued reports of cattle being turned onto pasture. Muddy lots have been reported by some cattle producers in southwest Iowa. Meanwhile, poultry producers remain concerned about their flocks given the recent spread of avian influenza.

Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. – For the week ending May 10, 2015, rain fell statewide with an inch common in central counties and two or more inches of moisture recorded in many eastern and western areas, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rainfall of six to ten inches was received in portions of the Southeast, resulting in lowland flooding and soil erosion. Replanting was expected. Up to two feet of snow fell in portions of the northern Panhandle over the weekend, stressing livestock. Planting progress slowed due to the wet soil conditions, but were still ahead of average for most crops. There were 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 17 short, 64 adequate, and 13 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 23 short, 63 adequate, and 6 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn planted was at 76 percent, near 72 last year, but ahead of the five-year average of 67.

Sorghum planted was at 23 percent, ahead of 9 last year and average.

Soybeans planted was at 25 percent, behind 32 last year, but near the 27 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 13 percent very poor, 18 poor, 33 fair, 33 good, and 3 excellent. Winter wheat jointed rated 84 percent complete, well ahead of 51 last year and 55 average.

Oats condition rated 2 percent very poor, 9 poor, 27 fair, 61 good, and 1 excellent. Oats emerged was at 91 percent, ahead of 81 last year and 74 average. Jointed was at 25 percent, well ahead of 3 last year.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 6 percent very poor, 10 poor, 37 fair, 42 good, and 5 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 4 percent very short, 10 short, 84 adequate, and 2 surplus.