Issue NE–CW 1408 Released April 7, 2008

April 6, 2008, precipitation fell throughout most of

the state accumulating an inch or more in portions

of eastern and north central Nebraska. Below

normal temperatures and wet conditions limited the

days suitable for field work to less than 3 days. Soil

temperatures are still too cold for corn planting in

most areas with farmers preparing equipment and

seed beds. Many have started applying fertilizer,

shredding stalks, and disking. Winter Wheat is

starting to green up. A few fields of oats have been

planted with some starting to emerge. Spring

calving was near three-fourths complete. Improving

temperatures and drying of lots have helped calf and

cattle conditions with 81 percent in the good to

excellent range.

consistent throughout the state with most highs near

70 and lows in the mid to low 20’s. The Southwest

and North Central Districts were the warmest with

highs near 70, while the North West District was the

coolest with lows in the upper teens. Nearly the

entire state received some form of precipitation.

This

Week

Last

Week

Last

Year

Aver-

age

Very Short 5 5 11

Short 21 8 21

Adequate 70 78 63

Surplus 4 9 5

Very Short 7 15 26

Short 23 27 34

Adequate 65 56 39

Surplus 5 2 1

1 percent very poor, 8 poor, 38 fair, 46 good, and

7 excellent, below last year.

Oats planted increased to 24 percent, behind last

year’s 27 and the average of 36. Oats emerged was

at 2 percent, compared to last year and the average

of 5 percent.

Crop

This

Week

Last

Week

Last

Year

Aver-

age

Oats Planted 24 9 27 36

Oats Emerged 2 5 5

Crop Very

Poor

Poor Fair Good Excel-

Lent

Wheat 1 8 38 46 7

calf condition rated 2 percent poor, 17 fair, 71 good,

and 10 excellent. Spring calving was 73 percent

complete. Calf losses rated 10 percent below

average, 89 average, and 1 above average.

Temperature

Extremes Station

High Low

Average Departure

NW Alliance 61 14 36 -8

Scottsbluff 62 17 39 -5

Sidney 66 14 38 -6

NC Ainsworth 72 22 40 -6

Arthur 69 22 38 -7

O'Neill 69 25 40 -6

NE Concord 67 22 40 -6

Elgin 66 25 40 -6

West Point 67 27 42 -6

C Grand Island 69 29 43 -3

Lexington 66 23 42 -4

Ord 69 27 42 -4

EC Central City 68 27 42 -4

Lincoln 67 28 44 -4

Mead 68 27 43 -5

SW Champion 70 20 40 -6

Dickens 69 19 40 -5

McCook 67 20 43 -3

SC Minden 69 26 42 -4

Red Cloud 69 26 44 -3

Smithfield 64 22 41 -5

SE Beatrice 66 28 43 -5

Clay Center 67 27 42 -4

Nemaha 67 32 45 -3

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