Issue NE–CW 1708 Released April 28, 2008

April 27, 2008, below average temperatures and wet weather

at the end of the week hindered row crop planting, according

to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska

Field Office. Soil temperatures warmed and averaged

50 degrees or more for the first time this season. Producers

were able to get in the fields earlier in the week and start

planting corn until precipitation limited progress. The cool

temperatures have created concern among beet growers for

emerging stands. Pasture and rangeland growth has been slow

due to the below normal temperatures during much of April.

As calving season nears completion, producers were focused

on working cattle and preparing to move livestock to pasture.

below normal across the state with highs near 80 in the eastern

areas to lows of 20 in the Panhandle. Precipitation was

widespread, with portions of central and southeastern

Nebraska receiving over an inch and a half of moisture.

There were reports of snow in the Panhandle as well as the

northeastern part of the state; hail was reported in the

Southwestern District.

This

Week

Last

Week

Last

Year

Aver-

age

Very Short 5 2 1 4

Short 10 12 7 17

Adequate 69 70 80 73

Surplus 16 16 12 6

Very Short 8 6 6 19

Short 21 24 20 32

Adequate 67 65 69 47

Surplus 4 5 5 2

very poor, 7 poor, 33 fair, 51 good, and 8 excellent, above last

year’s 51 good or excellent and the average. Wheat jointed

was at 12 percent, behind last year’s 41 and 11 days behind the

39 average.

Corn planted was 9 percent complete. This is behind last

year’s 13 and 6 days behind the average of 21.

Oats planted increased to 81 percent, the same as last year but

behind the 88 average. Oats emerged was at 28 percent, well

behind last year’s 38 and 51 average.

Alfalfa conditions rated 4 percent poor, 25 fair, 65 good, and

6 excellent, well above last year’s 33 percent good or excellent

condition and the average of 57 good or excellent.

Crop

This

Week

Last

Week

Last

Year

Aver-

age

Corn Planted 9 2 13 21

Oats Planted 81 57 81 88

Oats Emerged 28 14 38 51

Wheat Jointed 12 5 41 39

Crop Very

Poor

Poor Fair Good Excel-

Lent

Alfalfa 0 4 25 65 6

Wheat 1 7 33 51 8

range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 28 fair, 59

good, and 6 excellent, above last year. Spring calving was 93

percent complete. Calf losses rated 9 percent below average,

90 average, and 1 above average.

Item NW NC NE CEN EC SW SC SE

Total past week .28 1.10 .98 1.64 .79 .93 .47 1.56

Total since April 1 1.05 2.55 3.06 4.06 4.16 2.83 2.79 4.89

Normal since April 1 1.55 1.84 2.28 2.16 2.40 1.66 1.80 2.45

Total as % of normal 66% 136% 133% 188% 173% 169% 155% 200%

Temperature

Extremes Station

High Low

Average Departure

NW Alliance 74 20 43 -8

Scottsbluff 79 22 47 -4

Sidney 77 22 45 -6

NC Ainsworth 74 27 44 -10

Arthur 69 23 44 -9

O'Neill 77 23 45 -9

NE Concord 79 24 47 -8

Elgin 76 29 46 -8

West Point 79 30 50 -6

C Grand Island 77 31 49 -5

Lexington 75 26 47 -7

Ord 75 27 47 -7

EC Central City 79 29 49 -6

Lincoln 78 33 53 -4

Mead 80 30 52 -5

SW Champion 78 22 48 -6

Dickens 76 24 47 -7

McCook 76 29 49 -5

SC Minden 75 30 49 -6

Red Cloud 73 28 51 -4

Smithfield 73 28 47 -7

SE Beatrice 77 31 52 -5

Clay Center 75 28 49 -6

Nemaha 77 32 56 -1

Source: High Plains Regional Climate Center and Nebraska State Climate Office