Tag Archive for: Harvest

Nebraska Harvest 2014 Progress

After a somewhat slow start to Nebraska Harvest 2014, favorable harvest weather allowed farmers across the state to make good gains this past week. Other than a chance of rain for northeast portions of the state midweek, the temperatures look to be above average, and farmers should be able to make further progress in the coming week, especially with corn, which is lagging behind due to high moisture content in most areas.

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) weekly crop progress report for the week ending October 19th, soybean harvest across Nebraska was 69 percent complete, while corn was at 28 percent. Overall, for all reported states, soybean harvest has passed the halfway point, and corn harvest is at one third. Although good progress was made for both grains, they’re still lagging behind the average pace.

On the whole, soybean harvest stands at 53 percent complete, compared with 61 percent complete as of this time last harvest season. On average, two thirds of the soybean crop is harvested by this time. Soybean conditions for Nebraska rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 21 percent excellent. The percentage of beans harvested stood at 69 percent, behind 77 percent last year, and the average of 81 percent for Nebraska.

Nebraska-HarvestFor corn, thirty-one percent of the nation’s crop is harvested, which is up from 24 percent a week ago but off 7 percent from a year ago, and 22 percent behind the previous average pace. For Nebraska corn, conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 24 percent excellent.

As for corn maturation, the weather allowed Nebraska’s corn to further mature, ensuring minimal damage in any areas where frost has remained at bay. Ninety-four percent of Nebraska’s corn crop was mature, near last year’s 91 percent, and slightly ahead of the long-term average of 93 percent maturation. Corn harvested was 28 percent, near last year’s 31 percent, but behind the average of 45 percent.

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for continued mostly dry conditions for the central region in the coming week to ten days—welcome news to farmers who are anxious to get their crop out of the ground. Farmers in the southeast parts of the region—especially those in Iowa and Illinois—have seen cooler temperatures and continued rains, which have stalled their harvest aspirations, so the drier weather forecast should help them surge back to a more average pace.

The sunny warm weather will also allow corn to further dry down, as corn absorbs the needed heat units to stabilize at around 15-20 percent—necessary in order to prevent stalk rot in the field and later in the bin. Farmers across the state continue to play the waiting game, weighing ease of harvest now vs. increase drying costs later, a decision that favorable weather will make easier.

Do you have questions about the harvest progress on your land? Contact UFARM for a free consultation.

 

Sources consulted: Abendroth, Lori, and Roger Elmore. “In-Field Dry-Down Rates and Harvest.” Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Iowa State University. Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2014. Caldwell, Jeff. “Soybean Harvest Passes Halfway Point as Weather Window Flies Open.” Agriculture.com. 20 Oct. 2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014. “Harvest Continues with Soybean 69% Done; Corn, 28%.” CropWatch. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 20 Oct. 2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.

 

Nebraska Harvest in Full Swing

Combines across Nebraska have been running the month of October, even if the government hasn’t been. With the 17% government shut down, the USDA confirmed that the Crop Estimate and World Supply and Demand report will not be released as usual, since the data analysts and those who compile harvest data from Farm Service Agencies were furloughed the majority of October.  Since being reinstated there is now a back log of data. This leaves market analysts and farmers wondering about the particulars of the harvest data, including projections about corn and soybean acres.

In particular, due to the late, wet spring planting conditions, analysts were interested in seeing the prevented planting acreage numbers that were to be included in this report, and how this data might affect the overall corn and soybean markets. In mid-September, FSA reported that 3.57 million acres of corn and 1.69 million acres of beans were prevented from being planted. For the time being, though, life does go on, and the crops don’t care how soon Congress gets its act together.

Timing-wise, the start of the Nebraska harvest has been average to slightly later, although it has been much later than last year’s atypically early harvest. As of Oct. 8th, the overall corn harvest nationally was at 12% vs. the historical average of 23%. Beans were further behind at 11% vs. 20% historical average. Nebraska farmers were out in force, before a large rain system moved through the eastern half of the state, dumping significant amounts of rain in many areas and stalling harvest for several days. Frost was forecasted for certain areas, but stayed away the first part of October.

So far, corn and soybean yields have been higher than predicted or expected. Private analysts continue to report higher-than-expected yields for corn, with the average September corn yield higher than the 155.3 bushels/acre that was previously estimated. Higher than expected yields have resulted in rather bearish corn market. While soybean yields are also good so far, the USDA already raised last year’s crop size by 19 billion acres, so market adjustments to use should be minimal. Additionally, while early yields from early-planted fields have been favorable for both corn and beans, it’s still questionable whether or not these yield numbers will hold up as farmers begin to harvest from later-planted fields.

Favorable yields have also brought down the basis of both corn and beans, with the bean basis 5 cents lower than the 5 year max average and the corn basis is even with the 5 year max average. (dtn.com)  Some analysts believe the basis will continue a downward trend as harvest continues.

To date, the markets have coped fairly well without the smaller, weekly USDA reports. However, as we approach additional government budget issues, all the markets may feel the effects, including the grain markets. Hopefully negotiations on Capitol Hill will move forward and further shutdowns can be avoided.

If you’re looking for assistance managing the constant changes happening with your farmland,  contact a UFARM manager for a free consultation.