Weather and Crops

Released November 10, 2009. For the state of Nebraska the USDA reports that last week warm temperatures, wind and sunshine allowed harvest to make considerable progress. Soybean harvest was a priority for most producers and is nearly complete and eight days behind average. Corn harvest remains beind last year and over three weeks behind the average with producers still reporting excess grain moisture levels. Temperatures averaged six degrees above normal across the state and ranged froms highs in the low80's to lows near 20. There was no significant precipitation reported. Based on November 1 conditions, Nebraska's corn crop is forecast to be the highest of record at 1.58 billion bushels, unchanged from last month, 14 percent above last year and 8 percent above the previous record set in 2007, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics service, Nebraska Field Office. Yield is forcast at a record high 178 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month. 15 bushels per acre above last year and 12 bushels above the previous high set in 2004. Area to be harvested for grain at 8.9 million acres is 4 percent above a year ago. Soybean production is forecast to be the second highest of record at 247 million bushels, unchanged from last month and 9 percent above last month and 1 bushel above the record high set in 2007.