Corn harvest jumped 10 points to 26 percent in the final week of September. This is well ahead of the 17 percent average for the 18 reporting states. Eighty six percent of the crop is mature, 15 points ahead of average, so combines will continue roll, weather permitting.
Harvest in our territory also continues to run ahead of average, despite a lack of suitable field days in many areas.
| State Percent Harvested |
9/23 |
9/30 |
Average |
| Iowa |
5 |
11 |
6 |
| Kansas |
30 |
47 |
39 |
| Nebraska |
43 |
65 |
42 |
| South Dakota |
5 |
11 |
7 |
Soybean harvest also advanced, reaching 23 percent complete in the 18 states. That is up 9 percentage points from the prior week and three ahead of average.
With 83 percent of beans dropping leaves (average, 75 percent), condition is rated unchanged at 68 percent good/excellent and 10 percent poor/very poor. Kansas and South Dakota have 58 percent in the top categories, Iowa 74 percent and Nebraska 85 percent.
Grain sorghum is running slightly behind average, with 34 percent harvested in the 11 reporting states (average is 36 percent); 62 percent mature (63 percent average) and 97 percent (2 points ahead of the 95 percent average). Its condition worsened one point at each end, with 54 percent good/average and 17 percent poor/very poor.
Winter wheat planting also jumped in the past week, from 28 percent complete to 43 percent, which is three points ahead of average. Progress in our states varies somewhat, with Nebraska slightly behind average:
| State |
9/23 |
Average |
| Kansas |
41 |
32 |
| Nebraska |
72 |
74 |
| South Dakota |
67 |
65 |
Pasture and range conditions continue to improve, with 42 percent now rated good/excellent and 23 percent poor/very poor. Kansas is rated 53 percent good/excellent and 19 percent in the bottom categories.
Soil moisture in South Dakota continues to be short in some parts of the state:
| |
Very short |
Short |
Adequate |
Surplus |
| Topsoil moisture |
8 |
20 |
65 |
7 |
| Subsoil moisture |
14 |
29 |
53 |
4 |
These two maps tell the story.
