Weather conditions have been good for a quick fall harvest as many farmers are either at the halfway mark or beyond for the major crops, according to the latest USDA Crop Progress Report.
Corn farmers have completed 41 percent of the harvest in the 18 major producing states, well ahead of the 5-year average of 32 percent.
Texas (81 percent complete), North Carolina (90 percent), Tennessee (76 percent) and Kentucky (74 percent) are the closest to the finish line.
Illinois corn farmers are 45 percent complete and Missouri is at 51 percent complete.
Soybean farmers are even further along at 61 percent complete, up from 38 percent last week and the 5-year average of 42 percent.
Leading the soybean pack are Louisiana (90 percent) and Minnesota (87 percent). Nebraska and South Dakota are both 82 percent complete.
Grain sorghum harvest stands at 49 percent in the 6 major producing states with Texas at 90 percent complete.
Cotton farmers are also making rapid progress with 26 percent of the crop harvested nationwide, which is about average for this time of year.
When High Plains farmers are not harvesting crops, they are planting winter wheat and 68 percent is now in the ground, 7 points ahead of normal for this time of year.
Colorado (94 percent complete), Nebraska (89 percent) and Kansas (74 percent) are among the leaders in getting the winter wheat planted.
Approximately 41 percent of the wheat has emerged, which is 6 points ahead of the average.
With drought conditions prevailing in many of the wheat states, the concern now is how much of the emerged crop will survive.
The nation’s pasture and range conditions continue to show drought stress as only 22 percent of the acres are listed as good to excellent, (26 percent last week), 38 percent fair and 40 percent poor to very poor.
Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions are also indicating serious drought concerns.
The nation’s topsoil is now rated 53 percent short to very short. For Oklahoma, that number is 75 percent.
Subsoil moisture stands at 50 percent short to very short. Oklahoma has 54 percent of the acres in this category.
Specifically, for Oklahoma, winter wheat planted reached 69 percent, up 3 points from the previous year and up 7 points from normal.
Winter wheat emerged reached 39 percent, down 6 points from the previous year but up 4 points from normal.
Canola planted reached 2 percent, down 2 points from the previous year and down 51 points from normal.
Oklahoma corn harvest reached 62 percent complete, up 6 points from the previous year but unchanged from normal.
Grain sorghum harvest reached 41 percent, up 16 points from the previous year but unchanged from normal.
Oklahoma soybean harvest reached 20 percent, up 16 points from the previous year and up 6 points from normal.
Peanut harvest was 13 percent complete, down 5 points from the previous year and down 2 points from normal.
Oklahoma cotton harvest reached 9 percent, unchanged from the previous year but up 2 points from normal.
The fourth cutting of alfalfa hay reached 95 percent, up 10 points from the previous year and up 6 points from normal.
The fifth cutting of alfalfa hay reached 22 percent, up 22 points from the previous year and up 12 points from normal.
The third cutting of other hay reached 47 percent, unchanged from the previous year and unchanged from normal.
Oklahoma pasture and range conditions are rated 23 percent good to excellent, 45 percent fair and 32 percent poor to very poor.
In the Sunflower State, winter wheat farmers have planted 74 percent of the crop, ahead of 57 percent last year and 56 percent for the five-year average.
Kansas wheat emergence was 50 percent, ahead of the 33 percent mark last year and 32 percent average.
The condition of the emerged crop is rated at 34 percent good to excellent, 46 percent fair and 20 percent poor to very poor.
Kansas corn harvest stands at 63 percent, ahead of 45 percent last year and near the 59 percent average.
Kansas soybean harvest is 40 percent complete, well ahead of 11 percent last year and 20 percent average.
Grain sorghum harvest in Kansas is 30 percent complete, ahead of 15 percent last year and 23 percent average.
Kansas cotton harvest is just underway with 2 percent harvested, near 4 percent average.
Sunflowers harvest is 22 percent complete, ahead of 14 percent last year and 10 percent average.
Kansas pasture and range conditions are rated 32 percent good to excellent, 38 percent fair and 30 percent poor to very poor.
For Texas, small grain seeding continued in the High and Low Plains regions, and the Cross Timbers despite dry conditions. Moisture was needed for better germination and emergence.
Meanwhile, some producers in the Blacklands and South-Central Texas regions delayed seeding until more moisture was received.
Texas wheat producers have planted 55 percent of their crop with 33 percent emerged, both are about average for this time of year.
Corn harvest continued in some areas of the High Plains with overall harvest now at 81 percent complete.
Cotton harvest preparation was well underway with some producers applying defoliants in the High and Low Plains, with a few reports of harvest getting underway.
Cotton harvest neared completion in the Blacklands, South Texas, and the Edwards Plateau, while some producers in the Upper Coast areas were shredding and plowing residue.
Statewide, Texas cotton harvest stands at 35 percent complete.
Peanut harvest was underway in areas of South Texas, the Southern High Plains, and the Northern Low Plains areas with harvest 14 percent complete statewide.
Click here to see more...