U.S.D.A.'s weekly Crop Progress report “definitions” supplied by U.S.D.A. regarding major categories in the report

  • Print
Details
Category: Tools
Published on Monday, 18 June 2012 23:21
Written by Joseph F. Schmidt

U.S.D.A.'s weekly Crop Progress report “definitions” supplied by U.S.D.A. regarding major categories in the report:

 

  1. Days Suitable for Fieldwork:

A 'suitable' day is one where weather and field conditions allowed producers to work in fields a major portion of that day.

 

  1. General Crop Condition:
    1. Very Poor - Extreme degree of loss to yield potential, complete or near crop failure.  Pastures provide very little or no feed considering the time of year.  Supplemental feeding is required to maintain livestock condition.
    2. Poor - Heavy degree of loss to yield potential which can be caused by excess soil moisture, drought, disease, etc.  Pastures are providing only marginal feed for the current time of year.  Some supplemental feeding is required to maintain livestock condition. 
    3. Fair – Less-than-normal crop condition.  Yield loss is a possibility but the extent is unknown.  Pastures are providing generally adequate feed but still less than normal for the time of year. 
    4. Good - Yield prospects are normal.  Moisture levels are adequate and disease, insect damage, and weed pressures are minor.  Pastures are providing adequate feed supplies for current time of year. 
    5. Excellent - Yield prospects are above normal.  Crops are experiencing little or no stress.  Disease, insect damage, and weed pressures are insignificant.  Pastures are supplying feed in excess of what is normally expected at the current time of year.
  2. Crop Progress Percents: 

Progress percents relate to acres and should indicate the progress of field activities or crop development.  Generally, an acre should be considered in or beyond a phonological stage when 50% or more of the plants in that acre are in or beyond that stage. 

  1. Planted: A crop is considered planted when the seeds are placed in the ground.  For transplanted crops, the planting period refers to the time of setting the plants in the field. 
  2. Harvested: A crop is considered harvested when crop is cut, threshed, or otherwise gathered from field.