July 9: Crop progress and pasture conditions

South Dakota

For the week ending August 8, there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 40% very short, 42% short, 18% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 39% very short, 45% short, 16% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn condition rated 10% very poor, 19% poor, 41% fair, 29% good and 1% excellent. Corn silking was 94%, equal to last year, and near 91% for the five-year average. Dough was 44%, near 46% last year and 42% average. Dented was 1%, near 3% both last year and average.

Soybean condition rated 7% very poor, 22% poor, 44% fair, 26% good and 1% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 92%, near 91% last year and 90% average. Setting pods was 67%, behind 74% last year, and near 68% average.

Winter wheat harvested was 97%, near 94% last year and ahead of 86% average. Spring wheat harvested was 72%, ahead of 56% last year and 55% average.

Oats harvested was 81%, near 80% last year and ahead of 69% average.

Sorghum condition rated 12% very poor, 22% poor, 50% fair, 16% good and 0% excellent. Sorghum headed was 77%, ahead of 59% last year and 63% average. Coloring was 3%, equal to last year and behind 9% average.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 39% very poor, 44% poor, 12% fair, 5% good and 0% excellent.

North Dakota

For the week ending August 8, there were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 53% very short, 39% short, 8% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 55% very short, 34% short, 11% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Soybean condition rated 15% very poor, 35% poor, 37% fair, 12% good and 1% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 92%, near 90% last year and 93% for the five-year average. Setting pods was 73%, near 69% last year and 71% average.

Spring wheat condition rated 29% very poor, 32% poor, 27% fair, 11% good and 1% excellent. Spring wheat coloring was 94%, ahead of 87% last year and near 91% average. Mature was 73%, well ahead of 35% last year. Harvested was 24%, ahead of 6% last year and 15% average.

Durum wheat condition rated 18% very poor, 27% poor, 33% fair, 19% good and 3% excellent. Durum wheat coloring was 92%, ahead of 84% last year and 83% average. Mature was 63%, well ahead of 23% last year. Harvested was 5%, near 2% last year.

Winter wheat condition rated 18% very poor, 37% poor, 36% fair, 8% good and 1% excellent. Winter wheat mature was 95%, ahead of 85% last year. Harvested was 66%, ahead of 49% last year and 53% average.

Corn condition rated 16% very poor, 31% poor, 36% fair, 16% good and 1% excellent. Corn silking was 86%, near 90% last year and 89% average. Dough was 20%, near 18% last year and 24% average.

Canola condition rated 22% very poor, 29% poor, 31% fair, 16% good and 2% excellent. Canola coloring was 77%, ahead of 62% last year and near 74% average.

Sugar beet condition rated 1% very poor, 5% poor, 31% fair, 48% good and 15% excellent.

Oats condition rated 23% very poor, 35% poor, 31% fair, 10% good and 1% excellent. Oats coloring was 93%, ahead of 84% last year and near 89% average. Mature was 69%, well ahead of 44% last year. Harvested was 24%, ahead of 15% last year, but near 25% average.

Barley condition rated 23% very poor, 31% poor, 38% fair, 7% good and 1% excellent. Barley coloring was 93%, near 89% last year and 94% average. Mature was 73%, well ahead of 46% last year. Harvested was 28%, ahead of 12% last year and near 24% average.

Dry edible peas condition rated 16% very poor, 26% poor, 38% fair, 17% good, and 3% excellent. Dry edible peas dropping leaves was 92%, ahead of 84% last year and near 89% average. Harvested was 53%, well ahead of 22% last year and ahead of 37% average.

Sunflower condition rated 9% very poor, 33% poor, 41% fair, 15% good and 2% excellent. Sunflowers blooming was 76%, near 75% last year and 74% average.

Flaxseed condition rated 15% very poor, 29% poor, 36% fair, 17% good and 3% excellent. Flaxseed coloring was 84%, well ahead of 56% last year and ahead of 67% average.

Potato condition rated 7% very poor, 11% poor, 68% fair, 14% good and 0% excellent. Potatoes rows closed was 72%, behind 85% last year and 88% average. Vines dry was 7%, ahead of 2% last year and near 3% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 22% very poor, 33% poor, 34% fair, 9% good and 2% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 93%, ahead of 86% last year and equal to average. Setting pods was 76%, ahead of 63% last year and near 74% average. Dropping leaves was 7%.

Alfalfa condition rated 41% very poor, 34% poor, 20% fair, 5% good and 0% excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 63%, behind 69% last year and equal to average.

Lentils harvested was 9%, ahead of 3% last year.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 47% very poor, 32% poor, 17% fair, 4% good and 0% excellent. Stock water supplies rated 54% very short, 34% short, 12% adequate and 0% surplus.

Minnesota

Thunderstorms and light showers provided a welcoming sight for some farmers and crops, but dry and hot conditions continued in other areas in need of rain, according USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 8. Field activities for the week included the harvesting of small grains.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 39% very short, 41% short, 19% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 38% very short, 44% short, 18% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn in the dough stage reached 44%, four days behind last year and one day behind the average. Corn condition remained at 36% good to excellent.

Soybeans setting pods reached 84%, two days behind last year but three days ahead of average. Soybean condition remained unchanged at 34% good to excellent.

Spring wheat harvested reached 76%, nearly three weeks ahead of last year and the 5-year average.

Dry beans setting pods reached 95%. Dry bean condition declined to 18% good to excellent, compared to the previous week’s 20%.

Oats were at 75% harvested.

Barley was at 82% harvested.

Potatoes were at 8% harvested. Potatoes condition was 60% good to excellent.

Sunflower condition remained at 32% good to excellent.

Sugar beet condition was at 69% good to excellent. The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 89% complete.

Pasture and range report: Pasture condition was 35% very poor, 39% poor, 19% fair, 4% good and 3% excellent. Some livestock losses due to heat were reported.

Iowa

Iowa farmers had 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 8,  according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Field activities continue to include applying fungicides and insecticides and harvesting hay and oats. Some areas of the state have had haying and grazing of CRP lands approved in response to drought conditions.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 18% very short, 35% short, 46% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 22% very short, 42% short, 36% adequate and 0% surplus.

Topsoil moisture levels improved slightly in northwest Iowa while central Iowa topsoil moisture levels deteriorated. Central Iowa topsoil moisture rated 83% short to very short.

Northwest and Central Iowa subsoil moisture both rated 84% or more short to very short.

Field crops report: Corn silking or beyond reached 96%, equal to the 5-year average. Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 64%, four days ahead of average. Eleven percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage, three days ahead of the 5-year average. Iowa’s corn condition was rated 61% good to excellent.

Ninety-seven percent of soybeans were blooming, 10 days ahead of the 5-year average. Soybeans setting pods reached 84%, eight days ahead of normal. Soybean condition was rated 60% good to excellent.

Oats harvested for grain reached 86%, one day behind the 5-year average.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 97% complete. The third cutting was reported at 36% complete, equal to the 5-year average.

Pasture and range report: Hay condition rated 55% good to excellent. Pasture condition was rated 35% good to excellent.

Nebraska

For the week ending August 8, there were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 11% very short, 40% short, 49% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 13% very short, 44% short, 43% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn condition rated 3% very poor, 7% poor, 20% fair, 51% good and 19% excellent. Corn dough was 63%, near 64% last year, but ahead of 52% for the five-year average. Dented was 7%, behind 13% last year and near 8% average.

Soybean condition rated 2% very poor, 4% poor, 18% fair, 57% good and 19% excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 83%, near 79% last year and ahead of 69% average.

Sorghum condition rated 3% very poor, 13% poor, 25% fair, 47% good and 12% excellent. Sorghum headed was 74%, behind 84% last year, but near 73% average. Coloring was 9%, ahead of 4% last year and near 8% average.

Oats harvested was 94%, near 95% last year and 90% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 2% very poor, 5% poor, 20% fair, 52% good and 21% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 88%, near 89% last year. Setting pods was 72%, ahead of 53% last year.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 9% very poor, 15% poor, 58% fair, 16% good and 2% excellent.