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U.S. soybeans beginning to drop leaves, according to the USDA

U.S. soybeans beginning to drop leaves, according to the USDA
Aug 31, 2017
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Early figures are above last year’s numbers

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Soybean crops in a majority of U.S. states are starting to drop their leaves, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin.

6 percent of the soybean crop has dropped its leaves as of Sunday, according to the report. That number is up 1 percent from the five-year average.

On a state level, 54 percent of soybean fields in Louisiana have dropped their leaves. In contrast, only 1 percent of soybean fields in Ohio and Missouri have dropped their leaves.

Those numbers represent the highest and lowest numbers among the 18 states recorded.

And the USDA ranked 50 percent of the U.S. soybean crop as good.

Corn

The corn crop across the U.S. is also beginning to mature, according to the USDA’s report.

6 percent of the total crop is mature, which is down 2 percent from the number recorded at this time last year.

72 percent of North Carolina’s corn crop is mature, which is the largest percentage of the 18 states documented.

Conversely, corn in Ohio, North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa is only 1 percent mature.

And almost half of the U.S. corn crop is dented, the USDA reports.

44 percent of the total corn crop is dented, up from 29 percent the previous week.

92 percent of North Carolina’s corn crop is dented, making it the highest among the recorded states.

And 17 percent of Wisconsin’s corn crop is dented, which the lowest number among the 18 documented states.

The USDA also ranked 48 percent of the corn crop as good.

Spring wheat

American farmers were busy harvesting spring wheat, according to the USDA.

The August 27 report indicates 76 percent of the spring wheat harvest is complete, up 18 percent from last week.

Farmers in South Dakota have completed 93 percent of their spring wheat harvest, which is the most of the six states documented.

And farmers in Minnesota, with 65 percent of their spring wheat harvest completed, have the lowest percentage recorded.

Fieldwork days

The states with the highest amount of suitable fieldwork days for the week ending August 27, were:

  • Nevada, Arizona, Maine and Massachusetts – 7
  • Utah, Idaho, Washington and Oregon – 6.9
  • Wyoming and Colorado – 6.8

The states with the fewest amount of suitable fieldwork days were:

  • Minnesota – 3.3
  • Iowa – 4.4
  • South Dakota – 4.8
  • Nebraska – 5.1

Weekly precipitation levels

State

Precipitation (inches)

Weather Station

Illinois

0.72

Peoria

Indiana

0.67

South Bend

Iowa

4.65

Sioux City

Kentucky

1.07

Lexington

Michigan

0.19

Grand Rapids

Missouri

6.90

Kansas City

New York

0.90

Rochester

Pennsylvania

2.16

Philadelphia

Tennessee

1.31

Memphis

The next Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin is scheduled for release on Tues., Sept. 5.


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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