September 26, 2007

 

US corn harvest picked up speed last week on warm weather

 

 

Corn harvest picked up speed last week as warm temperatures and windy conditions dried out grains, the National Agricultural Statistics Service said in its weekly report.

 

Rain in southeastern counties slowed harvest, but by the end of the week farmers were back in the fields harvesting, drilling wheat and baling hay.

 

Temperatures averaged 6 degrees above normal across the state. All districts saw highs in the 90s, and some saw lows in the upper 30s.

 

The east central and southeast districts averaged more than an inch of rain.

 

But in the Panhandle, dry conditions raised concerns about germination of winter wheat. The northwest district - at 77 percent of normal precipitation - is the only district with below-average rainfall since April 1.

 

Corn conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 52 percent good and 30 percent excellent, well above last year's 61 percent good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 89 percent good or excellent, while 71 percent of dryland fields were in good or excellent condition, both above year-ago levels.

 

Seventy-one percent of corn was mature, ahead of last year's 68 percent and the 61 percent average. Nine percent of corn was harvested, ahead of last year's 6 percent and the 8 percent average.

 

Soy conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 57 percent good and 26 percent excellent, much better than last year's 60 percent in good or excellent condition. Ninety-four percent of soy was turning colour, even with last year and near the 95 percent average. Fifty-nine percent of soy was dropping leaves, behind last year's 65 percent and the 70 percent average. Three percent of soy was harvested, even with last year but behind the 9 percent average.

 

Alfalfa conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 54 percent good and 14 percent excellent. That's well above last year's 41 percent in good or excellent condition. Fourth cutting of alfalfa was 62 percent complete, behind last year's 70 percent and near the 61 percent average.

 

Sorghum conditions rated 1 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 51 percent good and 34 percent excellent, much better than last year's 55 percent in good or excellent condition. Ninety-seven percent of sorghum was turning colour, behind last year's 99 percent but ahead of the 93 percent average. Forty-two percent of sorghum was mature, behind last year's 50 percent and the 47 percent average. One percent of sorghum was harvested, behind last year's 3 percent and the 5 percent average.

 

Dry bean conditions rated 5 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 58 percent good and 11 percent excellent, above last year's 62 percent in good or excellent condition. Ninety-eight percent of dry beans were dropping leaves, well ahead of last year's 67 percent and the 71 percent average. Sixty-four percent of dry beans were harvested, far ahead of last year's 26 percent and 33 percent average.

 

Fifty-nine percent of winter wheat was seeded, ahead of last year's 53 percent but behind the 62 percent average. Twenty-three percent of winter wheat had emerged, ahead of last year's 16 percent but behind the 28 percent average.

 

Sixty-two percent of proso millet was harvested, ahead of last year's 32 percent and the 52 percent average.

 

Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 49 percent good and 14 percent excellent, much better than last year, when just 19 percent rated in good or excellent.