Harvest at a standstill, with virtually no progress this week in Nebraska
Hastings, NE — Harvest is at a standstill in Nebraska, where rain and now snow have hampered progress.
The weekly USDA crop progress report shows nearly no activity in the state, at a time when harvest should be at its peak.
“It feels more like December 15 than October 15 out right now, and looks like it, ” said Jay Reiners, a corn grower in Adams County. “You give us two weeks I think most everything will get wrapped up.”
The corn crop continues to rate well, with 80 percent in the good to excellent range.
25 percent of corn has been harvested, up just two percentage points from the week before, when 23 percent of corn had been picked.
80 percent of soybeans also rate good to excellent. 38 percent of the crop has been harvested, up from 36 percent the week before.
“I’m going to say hashtag no harvest 18 right now. We’re holding on, hoping to get in the field in the next few days. We were lucky we didn’t get much snow here the last couple of days, but it’s muddy,” said Jan tenBensel of Cambridge.
On winter wheat, 89 percent has now been planted, and 75 percent emerged.
The USDA reports just one day in the previous seven that was suitable for field work. Many producers say it will be a few days before they can get back into the fields, due to rain and snow conditions.
Courtesy: NTV
