For the week ending July 27, 2014, much of the state received needed precipitation according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The largest rainfall amounts were reported in the northern tier of the state. However, with the moisture came high winds and hail. Most of the hail was reported in the southwest and the worst of the wind damage was in the northeast. Statewide, there was 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 11 short, 75 adequate, and 13 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 6 short, 79 adequate, and 14 surplus.
Field Crops Report: Winter wheat turning color advanced to 73 percent. Mature was 3 percent. Conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 10 poor, 31 fair, 50 good, and 7 excellent.
Durum wheat jointed was 83 percent, behind 99 last year and 97 for the five-year average. Headed rated 49 percent, well behind 89 last year and 82 average. Turning color was 10 percent, behind 18 last year and 19 average. Conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 16 fair, 78 good, and 5 excellent.
Spring wheat headed rated 91 percent, equal to last year, but behind 93 average. Turning color was 29 percent, equal to last year, but behind 36 average. Mature was 2 percent. Conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 15 fair, 64 good, and 18 excellent.
Barley headed rated 90 percent, behind last year at 93 and 95 average. Turning color was 35 percent, ahead of 31 last year, but behind 43 average. Mature was 1 percent. Conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 2 poor, 17 fair, 67 good, and 14 excellent.
Oats jointed rated 97 percent, near both last year and average at 100. Headed was at 87 percent, behind 91 last year 93 average. Turning color was 29 percent, behind 35 last year and 39 average. Mature was 3 percent. Conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 1 poor, 10 fair, 79 good, and 9 excellent.
Canola turning color was 25 percent, ahead of 14 last year, but behind 29 average. Conditions were 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 15 fair, 64 good, and 20 excellent.
Flaxseed blooming was 86 percent, near both last year at 88 and 84 average. Turning color was 5 percent, near 4 last year, but behind 12 average. Conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 2 poor, 17 fair, 71 good, and 10 excellent.
Dry edible peas blooming were 95 percent, behind both last year average at 97. Conditions were 0 percent very poor, 4 poor, 19 fair, 68 good, and 9 excellent.
Dry beans blooming were 67 percent, ahead of last year at 59, but behind 74 average. Setting pods was 33 percent, ahead of last year at 15, but near 32 average. Conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 4 poor, 23 fair, 57 good, and 14 excellent.
Potatoes blooming were 86 percent, ahead of last year at 82, but behind 91 average. Rows filled was 41 percent, ahead of 32 last year, but behind 56 average. Conditions were 5 percent very poor, 10 poor, 27 fair, 50 good, and 8 excellent.
Corn silking was 34 percent, behind 46 last year and 52 average. Conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 17 fair, 54 good, and 24 excellent.
Soybeans blooming were 80 percent, ahead of 72 last year, but near 77 average. Setting pods was 35 percent, ahead of last year at 23, but near 37 average. Conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 2 poor, 22 fair, 61 good, and 15 excellent.
Sunflowers blooming were 3 percent, near last year at 5, but behind 14 average. Conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 20 fair, 69 good, and 10 excellent.
Sugarbeet conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 7 poor, 28 fair, 53 good, and 11 excellent.
First cutting of alfalfa was 93 percent complete, behind last year at 98 and 97 average. Second cutting of alfalfa was 10 percent complete, behind last year at 17 and 23 average. Alfalfa conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 10 fair, 70 good, and 17 excellent.
For More Information: North Dakota Crop Weather
