Nebraska Crops Show Mixed Progress After Recent Rain

By Scout Nelson

Rain improved soil moisture across Nebraska during the week ending September 20, 2026, but wetter conditions also limited the amount of fieldwork farmers could complete. Corn and soybean harvests moved forward and remained slightly ahead of last year, although both crops were still behind their five-year averages. Farmers had 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork, nearly two days fewer than the previous week.

The crop progress report from the USDA Farm Service Agency and Nebraska Extension provided information on fieldwork, crop development, harvest progress, soil moisture and pasture conditions across the state. The report showed that recent rain helped improve moisture supplies while some farm activities continued to lag behind normal progress.

Corn harvest reached 7%, compared with 5% at the same time last year and 8% for the five-year average. About 54% of the corn crop had reached maturity. This was ahead of last year’s 44% but slightly below the five-year average of 56%. Corn denting reached 94%, ahead of 87% last year and 93% for the five-year average.

Corn condition was rated 7% very poor, 11% poor, 30% fair, 38% good, and 14% excellent.

Soybean harvest reached 3%, compared with 2% last year and 6% for the five-year average. About 60% of soybeans had dropped leaves. This was ahead of the 57% recorded last year but behind the five-year average of 69%.

Soybean conditions were rated 3% very poor, 8% poor, 25% fair, 49% good, and 15% excellent. Nearly half of the soybean crop was rated good.

Winter wheat planting remained behind normal progress. About 22% of the crop had been planted, compared with 32% last year and 35% for the five-year average. Emergence reached 4%, compared with 5% last year and 7% for the five-year average.

Sorghum development showed mixed progress. About 84% of the crop had reached the coloring stage, matching last year but remaining below the five-year average of 93%. Maturity reached 40%, ahead of 25% last year and 32% for the five-year average. However, only 2% of sorghum had been harvested, compared with 4% last year and 3% for the five-year average.

Sorghum conditions were rated 6% very poor, 18% poor, 41% fair, 29% good, and 6% excellent.

Moisture conditions improved in some areas after the recent rainfall. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 14% very short, 29% short, 53% adequate, and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 24% very short, 30% short, 45% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Pasture and range conditions continued to show moisture stress. The condition was rated 32% very poor, 25% poor, 28% fair, 14% good, and 1% excellent. Overall, 57% of pasture and range were rated poor or very poor.

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