Pro Farmer Editors

Following are details from the state Crop/Weather Report:

Iowa: Soybean harvest made good progress across most of the State despite temporary rain delays. Soybean harvest was most advanced across the northwestern two-thirds of the State, nearing 90 percent complete in many areas. Meanwhile, the southeastern one-third lagged well behind, especially in the south-central district where just under one-fourth of the crop has been harvested. Warm temperatures aided corn ripening, but 16 percent of the crop still has not reached maturity. The corn harvest advanced throughout the State, but progress was limited due to high grain moisture and associated drying costs. There were 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork, compared to 4.0 days last year at this time. Topsoil moisture is rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture is rated 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Eighty-four percent of the corn is mature, 15 percentage points behind last year and the five-year average of 99 percent. Harvest progressed to 7 percent complete, nearly 3 weeks behind last year’s 33 percent pace and more than 2 weeks behind the five-year average of 27 percent. Moisture content of corn in the field is estimated at 27 percent, 7 percentage points higher than the five-year average. Harvested corn is averaging 23 percent moisture, compared with the five-year average of 17 percent. Corn lodging is rated at 76 percent none, 20 percent light, and 4 percent moderate. Overall, the corn crop is rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Ninety-four percent of the soybeans are dropping leaves, compared with last year’s 98 percent, and the five-year average of 99 percent. Soybean harvest advanced to 68 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year, but 3 days behind the five-year average of 79 percent. Soybean lodging is reported at 79 percent none, 17 percent light, 3 percent moderate, and 1 percent heavy. Soybeans shattering is rated 76 percent none, 19 percent light, 4 percent moderate, and 1 percent heavy. Overall, the soybean crop is rated at 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 14 percent excellent.

Illinois: Temperatures were much warmer across Illinois this past week. Producers are reporting a decrease in corn moisture levels, but most are still choosing to harvest soybeans first. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork. The average temperature was 6.6 degrees above normal. The average weekly precipitation was 0.35 inch above normal.

Nebraska: For the week ending October 12, 2008, widespread rain caused harvest delays in many areas but by Sunday soybean harvest was nearing twothirds complete, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Corn harvest made slow progress because of high grain moisture levels. In the west, producers were finishing up dry bean and millet harvest. Temperatures averaged 1 degree above normal across the state with highs reaching 80 in the Southeast and East Central Districts while the Panhandle had lows below the freezing mark. The majority of the state received one to two inches of rainfall, with the Panhandle and Southeastern counties recording near half an inch. Corn conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 4 poor, 18 fair, 54 good, and 22 excellent, below last year’s 81 percent good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 80 percent good or excellent while dryland fields rated 69, both below year ago levels. Corn mature was 79 percent, well behind last year’s 95 and 93 average. Corn harvested was 14 percent, behind last year’s 34 and twelve days behind the 29 average. Soybean conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 24 fair, 56 good, and 14 excellent, well below last year’s 82 percent good or excellent condition. Soybeans dropping leaves were 97 percent, near last year and average of 99. Soybeans harvested were 62 percent, well ahead of last year’s 47 but one day behind the 66 average.

Missouri: Most counties received light to moderate rainfall during the week, but farmers still had 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork to harvest corn and soybeans, each advancing 11 points during the week. Row crop harvest and wheat planting is well behind the normal pace. Some reporters in the northeast district commented that harvest may continue into winter. State-wide, topsoil moisture rates 2 percent very short, 17 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Fall tillage is 18 percent complete. Ninety-one percent of the corn crop is mature, 20 days behind last year and normal. Harvest is 41 percent complete, 28 days behind last year and 24 days behind normal. Overall, condition is rated 4 percent very poor, 14 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Ninety-one percent of the soybean crop is turning color, 12 days behind normal. Sixty-nine percent is dropping leaves, and forty-nine percent is mature, over a week behind last year and normal. Harvest is 20 percent complete, over a week behind normal. Soybean condition is rated 5 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 35 percent good, and 10 percent excellent.

Ohio: The average temperature for the State was 59.8 degrees, 5.5 degrees above normal for the week ending Sunday, October 12, 2008. Precipitation averaged 0.55 inches, 0.01 inches below normal. There were 87 modified growing degree days, 29 days above normal. Reporters rated 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the seven-day period ending Friday, October 10, 2008. Topsoil moisture was rated 22 percent very short, 41 percent short, 36 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. As of Sunday October 12, 87 percent of the planted corn acreage was mature, compared to 90 percent last year and 87 percent for the five-year average. Corn harvested for grain was at 24 percent, which 2 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans mature were at 88 percent, down from 94 percent last year and identical to the five-year average. Soybeans harvested were at 54 percent, which was 1 day behind last year, but 1 day ahead of the five-year average.

Indiana: Much needed rain came early in the week which temporarily slowed harvest, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Some operators are finished with soybean harvest, while others only have replanted portions of fields left to harvest which were late maturing. The corn crop has been slow to dry down with many fields still above 20 percent moisture. This week’s rain will help with emergence and growth of previously planted winter wheat. Several farmers were finishing up final cuttings of hay. There were 5.6 days suitable for field work. Corn condition is rated 54 percent good to excellent compared to 52 percent last year at this time. Eighty-eight percent of the corn acreage is now mature compared with 97 percent last year and 94 percent for the 5-year average. Twenty-six percent of the corn acreage has been harvested compared with 54 percent last year and 38 percent for the 5-year average. Moisture content of harvested corn is averaging about 21 percent. Soybean condition is rated 47 percent good to excellent compared to 46 percent last year at this time. Ninety-five percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves compared with 97 percent for both last year and the 5-year average. Fifty-five percent of the soybean acreage has been harvested compared with 63 percent last year and 56 percent for the 5-year average. Moisture content of harvested soybeans is averaging about 11.5 percent.

Minnesota: Farmers made good progress harvesting soybeans despite rain which interrupted field work throughout the past week, according to USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Approximately 20 percent of the soybean crop was harvested last week, but total harvest progress continued to lag behind the average. Corn for silage was almost entirely harvested, but harvest of corn for grain was moving slowly. Topsoil moisture supplies benefited from last week's precipitation. The average temperature for the week was 54.0 degrees, 4.5 degrees above normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday, October 10th, were 3 percent very short, 14 short, 69 adequate, and 14 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. As of Sunday, October 12th, 83 percent of the corn was mature, compared to 100 percent last year and 96 percent average. Five percent of the corn crop was harvested, compared to 41 percent last year and 24 percent average. Soybeans were 96 percent mature, compared to 99 percent last year and 97 percent average. Soybean harvest reached 67 percent, compared to 81 percent last year and 74 percent average.