July 2: Crop progress and pasture conditions

South Dakota

For the week ending August 1, there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 42% very short, 42% short, 16% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 43% very short, 42% short, 15% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn condition rated 7% very poor, 20% poor, 41% fair, 31% good and 1% excellent. Corn silking was 83%, behind 88% last year, but near 80% for the five-year average. Dough was 23%, behind 29% last year, and equal to average.

Soybean condition rated 6% very poor, 24% poor, 40% fair, 29% good and 1% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 84%, near 81% both last year and average. Setting pods was 47%, behind 62% last year and 52% average.

Winter wheat harvested was 91%, ahead of 84% last year and 76% average. Spring wheat condition rated 34% very poor, 39% poor, 20% fair, 7% good and 0% excellent. Spring wheat harvested was 53%, well ahead of 31% last year and ahead of 37% average.

Oats condition rated 17% very poor, 38% poor, 30% fair, 15% good and 0% excellent. Oats harvested was 71%, ahead of 60% last year and 54% average.

Sorghum condition rated 11% very poor, 29% poor, 48% fair, 12% good and 0% excellent. Sorghum headed was 57%, ahead of 49% last year and 47% average. Coloring was 2%, near 4% average.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 37% very poor, 47% poor, 14% fair, 2% good, and 0% excellent.

North Dakota

For the week ending August 1, there were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 45% very short, 46% short, 9% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 50% very short, 36% short, 14% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Soybean condition rated 15% very poor, 30% poor, 38% fair, 16% good and 1% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 88%, ahead of 80% last year and near 86% for the five-year average. Setting pods was 58%, ahead of 51% last year and near 55% average.

Spring wheat condition rated 27% very poor, 31% poor, 30% fair, 11% good and 1% excellent. Spring wheat coloring was 84%, ahead of 68% last year and 77% average. Mature was 42%, well ahead of 21% last year. Harvested was 6%, near 2% last year and 4% average.

Durum wheat condition rated 19% very poor, 25% poor, 19% fair, 32% good and 5% excellent. Durum wheat coloring was 74%, ahead of 67% last year and 63% average. Mature was 20%, ahead of 10% last year.

Winter wheat condition rated 22% very poor, 35% poor, 33% fair, 9% good and 1% excellent. Winter wheat coloring was 95%, equal to both last year and average. Mature was 79%, ahead of 72% last year. Harvested was 32%, ahead of 25% last year and near 28% average.

Corn condition rated 13% very poor, 31% poor, 38% fair, 18% good and 0% excellent. Corn silking was 69%, behind 77% last year, and near 73% average. Dough was 8%, near 6% last year, and equal to average.

Canola condition rated 16% very poor, 25% poor, 35% fair, 22% good and 2% excellent. Canola coloring was 56%, ahead of 47% last year, and near 54% average.

Sugar beet condition rated 1% very poor, 5% poor, 30% fair, 49% good and 15% excellent.

Oats condition rated 24% very poor, 31% poor, 33% fair, 12% good and 0% excellent. Oats coloring was 83%, ahead of 67% last year and 76% average. Mature was 43%, well ahead of 20% last year. Harvested was 8%, ahead of 3% last year, but near 12% average.

Barley condition rated 21% very poor, 30% poor, 38% fair, 10% good and 1% excellent. Barley coloring was 85%, ahead of 74% last year and near 84% average. Mature was 40%, ahead of 23% last year. Harvested was 6%, near 3% last year and 8% average. 

Dry edible peas condition rated 19% very poor, 30% poor, 29% fair, 21% good and 1% excellent. Dry edible peas dropping leaves was 74%, near 71% last year and 72% average. Harvested was 11%, near 8% last year, but behind 17% average.

Sunflower condition rated 9% very poor, 26% poor, 40% fair, 23% good and 2% excellent. Sunflowers blooming was 49%, equal to last year and near 50% average.

Flaxseed condition rated 16% very poor, 27% poor, 38% fair, 17% good and 2% excellent. Flaxseed coloring was 67%, well ahead of 32% last year and 40% average.

Potato condition rated 10% very poor, 18% poor, 56% fair, 16% good and 0% excellent. Potatoes blooming was 97%, near 95% last year, and equal to average. Rows closed was 55%, well behind 77% last year and 80% average. Vines dry was 1%, equal to average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 20% very poor, 34% poor, 35% fair, 9% good and 2% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 88%, ahead of 76% last year and equal to average. Setting pods was 60%, ahead of 44% last year and near 58% average.

Alfalfa condition rated 39% very poor, 33% poor, 24% fair, 4% good and 0% excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 45%, behind 50% last year and near 47% average.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 47% very poor, 32% poor, 18% fair, 3% good and 0% excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 55% very short, 34% short, 11% adequate and 0% surplus.

Minnesota

Scattered showers provided limited relief, but most of the state is still very dry and in need of more rain, according USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 1.

Reports indicated some crop conditions improved slightly while others remained unchanged or declined. Field activities for the week included the harvesting of small grains.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 42% very short, 39% short, 19% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 39% very short, 42% short, 19% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn silking reached 96%, the same as last year but one week ahead of the average. Corn in the dough stage or beyond was at 28%, two days behind last year but two days ahead of the average. Corn condition was at 36% good to excellent.

Soybeans blooming reached 96%, one day ahead of last year and one week ahead of average. Soybean setting pods was 69%, one day behind last year but three days ahead of the average. Soybean condition declined to 34% good to excellent, compared to the previous week’s 36%.

Spring wheat coloring reached 99%, ten days ahead of last year and the five-year average. Spring wheat harvested reached 32%. Spring wheat condition improved to 12% good to excellent, compared to the previous week’s 9%.

Oats were at 99% coloring and 46% harvested. Oat condition improved to 24% good to excellent, compared to the previous week’s 22%.

Barley was 97% coloring and 31% harvested. Barley condition was unchanged at 15% good to excellent.

Potatoes condition was 66% good to excellent.

Dry beans were 96% blooming and 83% setting pods. Dry bean condition declined to 20% good to excellent, compared to the previous week’s 26%.

Sunflower condition declined to 32% good to excellent, compared to the previous week’s 36%.

Sugar beet condition was 68% good to excellent. The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 88% complete.

Pasture and range report: Pasture condition was 37% very poor, 40% poor, 17% fair, 4% good and 2% excellent. Some chicken losses due to heat were reported.

Iowa

Most of the state received much needed rain Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31 which meant Iowa farmers had 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 1, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Field activities continue to include applying fungicides and insecticides and harvesting hay and oats. Topsoil moisture levels rated 16% very short, 34% short, 49% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 20% very short, 41% short, 39% adequate and 0% surplus.

Although moisture levels improved slightly in northwest Iowa, the shortage remains evident with topsoil rated 62% short to very short and subsoil rated 82% short to very short.

Field crops report: Corn silking or beyond reached 92%, one day ahead of the five-year average. Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 42%, four days ahead of average. Five percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage. Iowa’s corn condition was rated 62% good to excellent.

Ninety-three percent of soybeans were blooming, nine days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans setting pods reached 73%, eight days ahead of normal. Soybean condition was rated 61% good to excellent.

Oats coloring or beyond reached 97%. Seventy-two percent of oats for grain have been harvested, equal to the five-year average.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 92% complete. The third cutting was reported at 22% complete, one day ahead of the five-year average.

Hay condition rated 57% good to excellent.

Pasture and range report: Pasture condition was rated 40% good to excellent. No livestock comments were received this week.

Nebraska

For the week ending August 1, there were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 11% very short, 37% short, 52% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 12% very short, 47% short, 41% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn condition rated 3% very poor, 6% poor, 20% fair, 51% good and 20% excellent. Corn silking was 97%, near 93% last year and ahead of 91% for the five-year average. Dough was 41%, equal to last year, and ahead of 32% average.

Soybean condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 16% fair, 59% good and 21% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 95%, near 94% last year and ahead of 87% average. Setting pods was 66%, near 62% last year and ahead of 53% average.

Winter wheat harvested was 95%, near 96% last year but ahead of 90% average.

Sorghum condition rated 3% very poor, 8% poor, 25% fair, 50% good and 14% excellent. Sorghum headed was 49%, behind 61% last year and equal to average. Coloring was 4%, near 1% last year and 2% average.

Oats harvested was 89%, near 91% last year, but ahead of 83% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 20% fair, 60% good and 16% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 80%, ahead of 71% last year. Setting pods was 43%, ahead of 35% last year.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 8% very poor, 12% poor, 61% fair, 18% good and 1% excellent.