Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending September 7, 2014.
Northwest Minnesota farmers took advantage of drier weather conditions to advance small grain harvest progress during the week ending September 7, 2014, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Increasing moisture levels helped improve pasture and row crop conditions for many Minnesota crops, but farmers would like to see warmer conditions to advance row development. There were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork across the state.
Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 7 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 11 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus.
Ninety-four percent of the corn crop was at or beyond the dough stage, slightly ahead of last year and the five-year average. With 72 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition, 61 percent of the corn crop was at or beyond the dent stage. With nearly all of the soybeans crop setting pods, 26 percent is turning color, 5 days behind average. Soybean conditions increased slightly and now stand at 69 percent good to excellent.
Spring wheat harvest, at 54 percent complete, remains over two weeks behind the five year average. Fifty-seven percent of the Spring wheat crop was in good to excellent condition. Twenty-one percent of the potato crop has been harvested, 10 days behind average. Potato conditions remained unchanged with 84 percent good to excellent. Ninety percent of the oat crop is now harvested, more than a week behind last year and the five-year average.
With nearly all the dry edible bean acreage setting pods, 83 percent of the crop is fully podded. Thirty-five percent of the dry edible bean crop is at or beyond the coloring stage, with 55 percent good to excellent condition. Sugarbeet conditions increased to 74 percent good to excellent condition. Sugarbeet harvesting has started, but has been delayed due to wet field conditions.
The third cuttings of alfalfa hay was 76 percent complete, 16 points ahead of the previous year. All hay conditions increased to 72 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions increased to 69 percent good to excellent.
