Raise Your Hand: Who Has Corn Still In The Field?
01/06/2010 08:45AM
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As winter grips nearly the entire nation, subzero temperatures and healthy snow blankets the Cornbelt. With 5% of the corn crop, an estimated 600 million bushels, remain in the field until there are opportunities to finish the 2009 harvest. But in addition to the field storage of corn, the USDA’s weekly crop progress report also indicates the Cornbelt will begin the spring with sufficient moisture.
USDA’s state by state report for January 5th indicates a large quantity of soil moisture, and an equally large quantity of fall work that remains unfinished.
ILLINOIS: It was another cold and moisture filled month in December. While the vast majority of producers have finished harvesting there are areas where harvest continues as weather permits. Topsoil moisture 45% adequate and 55% surplus. Winter wheat conditions are rated 68% fair to poor.
INDIANA: Many producers were unable to plant their intended winter wheat acreage due to the extremely late corn and soybean harvest. However, the winter wheat acreage that did get planted is reported to be in mostly good condition. Scattered fields of corn remain to be harvested with declining stalk and ear quality. Mold has been a significant problem in the corn crop this fall causing elevators and ethanol plants to reject or dock prices of some corn deliveries. Farmers are concerned with the quality of stored corn. Very little tillage work was accomplished during December due to wet soil conditions. Some fertilizer and manure was spread when soils were frozen hard enough to support equipment. High vomitoxin levels in the corn have been a problem for some livestock producers.
IOWA: Deep snow received during the second week of December kept a few corn fields from being harvested. However, Iowa farmers harvested a larger percentage of their corn crop than many other Midwestern States. The below-average temperatures also delayed post-harvest field work which will most likely be completed in the spring. The average depth of snow cover for the month of December was 20 inches, well above last year’s average of 10 inches. Frost penetration averaged 11 inches compared to last year’s 10 inches. Soil moisture is 77% adequate, and 21% surplus.
KANSAS: Topsoil moisture is 69% adequate, and 27% surplus. Wheat condition was rated 65% fair to good. Winds have damaged 11% of the wheat and freezing temperatures have damaged 12% of the wheat. The month of December in Kansas had plenty of rain, snow, and ice, with some areas receiving record amounts of snow fall. The snow was accompanied by low temperatures and high winds that resulted in drifting that made for dangerous traveling conditions and left some wheat fields bare. There were reports of some isolated row crop fields across Kansas that are still standing for harvest. The lack of snow cover on winter wheat fields along with the late planting dates has farmers concerned with the potential for wind damage and winter kill.
MICHIGAN: Rain and Snowfall during the month ended field activities; snowfall provided adequate cover of the winter wheat crop. Corn was harvested in some areas; a few fields remained unharvested.
MINNESOTA: Precipitation during the month was above normal for nearly all locations as two significant winter storms affected the state. Heavy snowfall, combined with strong winds, reduced visibilities and prompted blizzard warnings for many southern and eastern Minnesota counties. Corn harvest was ongoing for producers in some parts of Minnesota during December.
MISSOURI: December was colder and wetter than normal. The condition of the dormant winter wheat crop ranges from poor to good, with the majority rated fair. Some late planted wheat emergence is marginal.
NEBRASKA: Corn 96% harvested complete. Wheat conditions are rated 94% fair to good, which was below last year’s condition. Depth of snow at the end of December averaged eight inches across the state, with the Northeast District reporting the largest amount of snow cover at nearly 19 inches and the East Central District recording 13 inches, while the western counties had less than two inches of cover. Temperatures averaged below normal the entire month. During the last week of the month, soil temperatures ranged from 24 in the western part of the state to 33 in the south and eastern areas.
NORTH DAKOTA: Average snow depth was 11.30 on January 3. Snow cover protection for alfalfa and winter wheat was rated 98% adequate to excellent. Only 71% of the corn has been harvested. A major snowstorm occurred across the state in late December which further delayed corn harvest progress. Minimal progress was made harvesting corn since the previous estimate on December 20.
OHIO: Winter wheat producing counties report that the wheat crop is in fair to good condition. Even though much of the crop was planted late, conditions through November were favorable, and the crop is close to where it should be for this time of year. Most wheat fields have some snow cover, which is favorable considering the very cold temperatures.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Winter wheat snow cover is 97% adequate to excellent. Winter wheat 91% fair to good condition. Corn is 93% harvested, compared to 100% average for this time of year. A large Christmas snow storm across the state brought the remaining corn harvest to a halt. The remaining harvest may have to wait till spring to complete.
WISCONSIN: At the end of the month, the entire state had snow cover. Of the reporting stations, Madison had the most snow with 26.8 inches of snow since December 1.
Summary:
While nearly 30% of the North Dakota corn remains in the field, there are corn fields still standing in many other states. The 2010 planting season will begin with plenty of soil moisture and a wheat crop that is in fair condition, but with plenty of snow cover at this time.
Source: Stu Ellis, University of Illinois