According to the USDA Crop Progress Report for the week ending June 10, topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 21 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated the same as last week with 4 percent very short, 21 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Winter wheat conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 52 percent good and 16 percent excellent. Winter wheat headed was at 88 percent, which is behind last year’s 99 percent, but above the 85 percent five-year average.
Producers in the northern Panhandle reported that no moisture was received this last week and drought stress is beginning to show up. Nearly all of the wheat is headed and flowering, with some starting to turn color. Sawfly is present and there will be damage, however, the extent is not yet predictable. Overall, the crop is rated 75 percent good to excellent in the area.
Southern Panhandle producers report 100 percent of the wheat is headed, with some areas showing 75 percent flowering and 50 to 60 percent in the milk stage. Some random areas caught a little rain, along with some patchy hail. Soil moisture appears to be adequate in most areas of the region. No major disease concerns have been reported. In addition, extensive hail damage was observed in parts of Cheyenne County where the storms hit the end of May.
Southwestern Nebraska, again this week, did not receive any rain according to area producers, but soil moisture appears adequate at this time. There are reports of some minor leaf rust and heads are in the grain-fill stage. Overall, conditions are good.
In south central Nebraska, producers report dry conditions with topsoil moisture supplies below average. The wheat in the region is slow to mature, but there is some color. Rain is needed to fill the heads. No disease stresses have been reported. Wheat conditions in the area range from average to below average, mostly due to drought conditions throughout the season.
Producers in southeastern Nebraska reported dry/drought conditions, with no rainfall across the region and no subsoil moisture to draw from. It appears that the crop is maturing prematurely in some areas and will be ready for harvest in the next couple of weeks, with yields being sacrificed as a result. The overall condition for wheat in the area would be rated at fair to poor.
