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Nebraska planting pace ahead of schedule despite rain

A south-central Nebraska farmer says the warm and dry conditions have made for a quick planting season.

Dough Saathoff tells Brownfield he wrapped up corn planting today. “I’ll be switching to beans there soon. I think there’s a lot of beans already in the ground around me. We’re dry and warm. That’s why things are going pretty fast around here.”

The latest crop progress and condition report from USDA says 20 percent of the state’s corn crop is in and one percent has emerged. Topsoil moisture is 64 percent short-to-very short.

He tells Brownfield recent moisture should help improve soil conditions. “Soil moisture in the top 2-3 inches is pretty dry. Down below seems to be decent moisture. I think last year we were catching some spring rain, so we were sitting pretty good year before, I think we were pretty dry.”

Nine percent of soybeans have been planted and 33 percent of winter wheat is rated good-to-excellent.