August 24, 2011

 

Nebraska's corn harvest forecasts less than 2010

 

 

Although Nebraska's corn harvest forecasts were above average, they were less than last year's forecasts, according to scouts who were on a yearly crop tour on Tuesday morning (Aug 23).

 

Hot weather during pollination and some cool temperatures shortly after pollination have likely prevented the crop from reaching its full potential after a good start, scouts said.

 

On a route near the Platte River through Hamilton, Polk and Butler counties, scouts calculated average yield potential of 158.5 bushels per acre, based on surveys of seven fields.

 

In 2010, scouts on the same route pegged corn yield potential at 166.9 bushels per acre, while the three-year tour average for the area was 158.24.

 

Scouts also counted an average of 1,136 soy pods in a three-by-three foot plot. That figure was below the tour's 2010 average for the same route of 1,339 pods and the three-year average of 1,221.

 

Despite the low pod counts, the soy fields seemed to be on track to reach harvest without much stress.

 

"They do not have any diseases," said an Illinois farmer on the tour. "These beans are filling well."

 

On another Nebraska route further south, scouts found an average corn yield of 153 bushels per acre, in line with 2010.

 

Soy pod counts were up 5% on that route, based on the average of six field stops.

 

Scouts fanned out on Pro Farmer's annual four-day Midwest Crop Tour on Monday (Aug 22), with the western leg departing from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the eastern leg launching from Columbus, Ohio.

 

Scouts count the number of corn stalks in a 30-foot row of corn, measure ears and count kernel rows to estimate yields. Scouts do not estimate soy yields, but instead count pods in three-by-three foot plots to gauge yield potential.

 

Large yield forecasts and pod counts in western states were needed to make up for expected shortcomings in the East, which has suffered from adverse weather conditions since planting began.

 

Scouts in Nebraska noted some instance of hail damage, which was severe in northern reaches of the state.

 

Additionally, wind knocked over corn stalks in places. Nebraska's farmers told scouts that the condition, known as "green snap," was common throughout the state.

 

USDA's most recent crop conditions report showed that the corn crop in Nebraska was rated 76% good to excellent, well above the national average of 57%.

 

Nebraska's soy ratings were 79% good to excellent compared to the national average of 59%.

 

A year ago, the USDA reported final average corn yields of 166 bushels per acre and soy yields of 52.5 bushels per acre across Nebraska.