Wet weather last week imposed yet another impediment to this year's harvest, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.
Last week, Grand Island received 1.46 inches of rain on what has already been a wet fall. According to the National Weather Service in Hastings, Grand Island has received 8.97 inches of rain since Sept. 1.
The USDA reported that corn and sorghum harvests remained more than two and a half weeks behind average with 2008 being the latest harvest since 1992.
The USDA reported that corn harvest was most advanced in the eastern third of the state, while many western areas were just reaching the halfway point.
The delay in corn and sorghum harvest has also kept farmers from doing fall field chores, such as tillage, fertilizer application and moving cattle to yet unharvested cornfields.
The USDA reported that, statewide, corn harvest was 67 percent complete, behind last year's 96 percent and 17 days behind the average of 93 percent.
Sorghum harvest was 61 percent complete, behind last year's 96 percent and 19 days behind the 95 percent average.
The wet fall weather has also been a big benefit for fall seeded winter wheat, which was rated 81 percent good or excellent, compared to last year's 56 percent good or excellent rating.
According to the USDA, the 81 percent good or excellent rating was the highest condition rating in 10 years.
Todd Gerdes, grain marketing specialists for the Aurora Co-op, estimated that area harvest is about 85 percent complete.
Gerdes said harvest varies across the area as some areas are only 75 percent or less complete, especially north Central Nebraska.
Despite rainy conditions causing harvest delays, Gerdes said, crop conditions are better than expected.
"The corn crop and the conditions of the corn stalk have remained pretty good," he said. "But we are getting into that time frame now where deterioration of the corn stalk has become a very big concern."
A weakened corn stalk is more susceptible to breakage, putting the ear on the ground.
"It would not be a pleasant time to get a storm right now," Gerdes said. "We really don't want to see any snow, ice or wind right now. It could make a mess pretty fast."
Also, cooler weather and shorter daylight hours increase the amount of time it takes to dry the ground out after a rain. Adding to that delay are already heavily saturated soil conditions.
According to the National Weather Service in Hastings, Grand Island's forecast through Tuesday has no precipitation except for scattered flurries on Thursday with highs averaging in the 40s and lows in the 20s.
Along with wet conditions, Gerdes said, this year's crop has taken longer for the ears to reduce their moisture content.
"Grain has had more moisture in it than farmers' equipment could handle," he said.
Also, lack of on-farm storage for wet grain would force farmers to take it to the elevator, where there would be additional fees for storing and drying the corn down to a suitable moisture content.
Gerdes said corn yields so far have been better than expected and could be "pretty similar" to last year's area harvest averages.
According to the USDA, Hamilton County averaged 184.3 bushels per acre last year, while Hall County averaged 186.3 bushels.
"I'm not going to say that the yields are going to be better than last year," he said. "It has been less than ideal as a growing season, but we are seeing yields that meet our expectations, not by a couple of bushels, but in some cases it's pretty sizable differences."
