USDA Weekly Crop Progress

By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- In the last weekly Crop Progress and Condition report for the 2015 growing season, USDA shows improving winter wheat condition ratings along with emergence equal to average.

Winter wheat emergence is 93% complete, compared to 90% last week and a 93% five-year average. Fifty-five percent of the crop is rated good to excellent, compared to 53% last week.

"These ratings resulted in a four-point increase in the DTN Winter Wheat Condition Index to 146, which was down from 154 a year ago, but above the five-year average of 125," said DTN Analyst Todd Hultman. "Monday's report is neutral to bearish for wheat."

Ninety-eight percent of sorghum is harvested, compared to 94% last week and a 97% five-year average.

Eighty percent of the cotton crop is harvested, compared to 70% last week and an 88% five-year average.

The following are highlights from weekly crop progress reports issued by National Ag Statistics Service offices in individual states. To view the full reports from each state, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/….

Colorado

Scattered rainfall and snow showers limited field activity, but most crop harvesting was complete by the end of the week. Overall, farmers had 3.8 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short, 27% short, 65% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 8% very short, 28% short, 62% adequate, and 2% surplus. The state's corn crop was 95% harvested, just behind 98% last year and 99% on average. The winter wheat crop was rated 51% in good to excellent condition going into the winter.

Illinois

Wet conditions left farmers with only 1.9 days suitable for field work. Precipitation amounts averaged 1.48 inches statewide, more than half an inch above normal, and temperatures were 3.8 degrees above normal. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% very short, 8% short, 75% adequate, and 15% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% very short, 16% short, 74% adequate, and 8% surplus. Winter wheat conditions were rated 67% in good to excellent condition.

Indiana

Statewide, scattered rain showers slowed fieldwork and heavy rains caused some localized flooding in southern parts of the state this past week. Overall, farmers had 3.7 days available for field work, which they spent cleaning and storing equipment, hauling grain, spreading lime and baling corn stalks. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% very short, 16% short, 68% adequate, and 14% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% very short, 20% short, 68% adequate, and 8% surplus. The state's winter wheat crop was 100% emerged, a little ahead 92% last year and 97% on average. The wheat was rated 70% in good to excellent condition going into the winter.

Iowa

A mix of winter weather left farmers with only 1.6 days suitable for field work this past week. Most focused on hauling manure and fertilizer application, as grain movement slowed. Statewide precipitation totals averaged over an inch, more than twice the weekly norm. Temperatures were one degree above normal. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% short, 77% adequate, and 20% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 6% short, 82% adequate, and 11% surplus. Grain movement from the farm to elevator was rated 29% moderate to heavy. Off-farm grain storage availability was rated 78% adequate to surplus. On-farm grain storage availability was rated 68% adequate to surplus.

Kansas

The eastern half saw significant ice and snow accumulations this past week, and the western half experienced below normal temperatures. Overall, farmers had only 2.8 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 6% short, 17% short, 67% adequate, and 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 9% very short, 25% short, 64% adequate, and 2% surplus. The state's winter wheat was rated 48% in good to excellent condition. Cotton was 69% harvested, up from 62% last year but behind 80% on average.

Michigan

Rain late in the week kept many farmers out of the field and left them with a statewide average of only 3.1 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% short, 72% adequate, and 26% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short, 12% short, 77% adequate, and 10% surplus. The state's corn crop was 96% harvested, well ahead of 76% last year but near 93% on average. The winter wheat was rated 79% in good to excellent condition.

Minnesota:

No report was available at the time of posting.

Missouri

A warmer and wetter than average week visited the state this past week and left farmers with little time in the fields. Temperatures averaged 4.6 degrees above normal, and precipitation totals averaged 2.37 inches, nearly an inch and a half above normal. Overall, farmers had only two days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 4% short, 60% adequate, and 36% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% very short, 11% short, 70% adequate, and 17% surplus. The state's wheat crop was 96% emerged, well ahead of 74% last year and 86% on average. Wheat condition was rated 49% in good to excellent condition. Cotton and sorghum crops were both 96% harvested.

Nebraska

Clear conditions early in the week gave way to rain, sleet and snow, which halted fieldwork activities. Temperatures fell the last half of the week as winter-like conditions prevailed. Corn harvest continued to creep along in Panhandle counties, where melting snow and high grain moisture levels limited progress. Statewide, there were 3.6 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% very short, 18% short, 73% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 5% very short, 23% short, 70% adequate and 2% surplus. Winter wheat condition was rated 63% good to excellent.

North Dakota

Cold temperatures froze the ground surface across the state this past week, allowing producers to harvest remaining corn and sunflower acres. However, the frozen ground did halt tillage activities. The lack of snow cover has winter wheat producers concerned about their crop being exposed to the cold temperatures. Temperatures were above normal in the east, but 4 to 8 degrees below normal in the west. There were 5.2 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short, 21% short, 72% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 3% very short, 25% short, 69% adequate and 3% surplus. Winter wheat condition was rated 71% good to excellent.

Ohio

There were 4.5 days suitable for field work this past week. There was some tiling and tillage work being done, but for the most part, field work was finished. Statewide, Topsoil moisture was rated 3% very short, 14% short, 72% adequate and 11% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3% very short, 18% short, 72% adequate and 7% surplus. Winter wheat condition was rated 71% good to excellent.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma experienced heavy rain in the southeastern districts this past week. Below-freezing temperatures cooled the northwestern districts of the state. Precipitation averaged 1.55 inches across the state, ranging from 0.55 inch in the panhandle district to 7.21 inches in the southeast district. Statewide, temperatures averaged in the mid-40s, with the lowest recording of 19 degrees at Boise City on Nov. 27 and the highest recording of 76 degrees at Beaver on Nov. 25. Topsoil moisture was rated 6% very short, 19% short, 64% adequate and 11% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 13% very short, 27% short, 52% adequate and 8% surplus. Cotton was 75% harvested, near the average of 74%. Wheat was 97% emerged, near the average of 96%. Wheat conditions were rated 51% good to excellent. Oats were 68% planted and 64% emerged, ahead of the average of 55% emerged. Soybeans were 92% harvested, near the average of 90%.

South Dakota

The state saw above-normal temperatures early in the week, which allowed for late-season field work. Producers across northeastern, central and western South Dakota took advantage of daytime highs ranging from 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit early in the week to complete fall field work. The warmer temperatures also provided for considerable melting of snow across the southeast. There were 4.9 days suitable for field work. Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies were rated 8% very short, 26% short, 65% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 7% very short, 30% short, 62% adequate and 1% surplus. Winter wheat conditions were rated 69% good to excellent.

Texas

Areas of the Blacklands and the Cross Timbers received rainfall of 5 inches or more, with isolated showers in the Blacklands reaching over 10 inches. The rest of the state primarily ranged from 0.01 inch in the Trans-Pecos and the Lower Valley to over 1 inch in the Plains and south-central Texas. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 8% short, 59% adequate and 31% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 12% short, 64% adequate and 22% surplus. Corn was 96% harvested as of Sunday, behind the average of 100%. Cotton was 75% harvested, behind the average pace of 80%. Sorghum was 98% harvested, ahead of the average of 94%. Soybeans were 90% harvested, behind the average of 94%. Winter wheat was 89% planted and 79% emerged, behind the average of 82% emerged. Wheat condition was rated 56% good to excellent. Oats were 92% planted and 67% emerged, behind the average of 81% emerged. Oat condition was rated 47% good to excellent.

Wisconsin

In some areas of the state, frozen ground helped combines reach the last of the standing corn this past week. However, much of the state saw rain and daytime temperatures above freezing, keeping fields muddy and difficult to access. Melting snow compounded wet conditions for the southern half of the state. Reporters noted that winter wheat, hay and pastures have responded well to the above-normal temperatures and rain received during November and are looking good going into the winter. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 1% very short, 4% short, 70% adequate and 25% surplus. Subsoil moisture was 1% very short, 6% short, 79% adequate and 14% surplus. Corn was 96% harvested, ahead of the average of 92%. Winter wheat conditions were rated 85% good to excellent. Several reporters throughout the state commented that yields were higher than average for the year.

National Crop Progress Summary
	This	Last	Last	5-Yr
	Week	Week	Year	Avg
Cotton Harvested	80	70	83	88
Sorghum Harvested	98	94	91	97
Winter Wheat Emerged	93	90	95	93

National Crop Condition Summary
(VP=Very Poor; P=Poor; F=Fair; G=Good; E=Excellent)
	This Week						Last Week						Last Year
	VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E		VP	P	F	G	E
Winter Wht	2	7	36	44	11		2	8	37	42	11		1	5	36	49	9

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