Aug. 16: Crop progress and pasture conditions

South Dakota

For the week ending August 15, 2021, there were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 46% very short, 45% short, 9% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 42% very short, 46% short, 12% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn condition rated 13% very poor, 26% poor, 37% fair, 23% good and 1% excellent. Corn silking was 97%, near 98% last year and 96% for the five-year average. Dough was 69%, near 71% last year, but ahead of 61% average. Dented was 12%, ahead of 7% last year and near 9% average.

Soybean condition rated 11% very poor, 28% poor, 39% fair, 21% good and 1% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 96%, near 95% both last year and average. Setting pods was 85%, near 81% last year and ahead of 79% average. Dropping leaves was 6%, near 2% last year and ahead of 1% average.

Spring wheat harvested was 80%, near 78% last year and ahead of 70% average.

Oats harvested was 88%, near 92% last year but ahead of 83% average.

Sorghum condition rated 10% very poor, 27% poor, 48% fair, 15% good and 0% excellent. Sorghum headed was 88%, ahead of 81% last year and 79% average. Coloring was 6%, behind 13% last year and 18% average.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 35% very poor, 42% poor, 19% fair, 4% good and 0% excellent.

North Dakota

For the week ending August 15, there were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 55% very short, 36% short, 9% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 56% very short, 32% short, 12% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Soybean condition rated 16% very poor, 36% poor, 34% fair, 13% good and 1% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 95%, near 96% last year and 97% for the five-year average. Setting pods was 85%, near 81% last year and 83% average. Dropping leaves was 4%, near 2% last year and 3% average.

Spring wheat condition rated 27% very poor, 34% poor, 27% fair, 11% good and 1% excellent. Spring wheat coloring was 97%, near 94% last year and equal to average. Mature was 88%, well ahead of 57% last year. Harvested was 48%, well ahead of 17% last year and ahead of 31% average.

Durum wheat condition rated 18% very poor, 27% poor, 32% fair, 22% good and 1% excellent. Durum wheat coloring was 97%, ahead of 92% last year and near 94% average. Mature was 84%, well ahead of 52% last year and 53% average. Harvested was 32%, well ahead of 11% last year.

Winter wheat harvested was 86%, ahead of 67% last year and 72% average.

Corn condition rated 16% very poor, 31% poor, 33% fair, 18% good and 2% excellent. Corn silking was 95%, equal to both last year and average. Dough was 46%, ahead of 35% last year and near 43% average. Dented was 3%, near 1% last year and 5% average.

Canola condition rated 19% very poor, 31% poor, 31% fair, 17% good and 2% excellent. Canola coloring was 85%, ahead of 73% last year and equal to average. Harvested was 10%, ahead of 4% last year and near 9% average.

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

Oats condition rated 27% very poor, 36% poor, 28% fair, 9% good and 0% excellent. Oats coloring was 96%, near 94% last year and 95% average. Mature was 85%, ahead of 68% last year. Harvested was 43%, ahead of 25% last year and equal to average.

Barley condition rated 25% very poor, 35% poor, 32% fair, 8% good and 0% excellent. Barley coloring was 97%, near 95% last year and 98% average. Mature was 88%, well ahead of 68% last year. Harvested was 57%, well ahead of 23% last year and ahead of 44% average.

Dry edible peas dropping leaves was 96%, ahead of 89% last year and near 95% average. Harvested was 75%, well ahead of 39% last year and ahead of 56% average.

Sunflower condition rated 7% very poor, 29% poor, 42% fair, 21% good and 1% excellent. Sunflowers blooming was 91%, near 89% both last year and average.

Ray flowers dry was 17%, ahead of 8% last year and 10% average. Bracts turned yellow was 9%.

Flaxseed condition rated 16% very poor, 33% poor, 36% fair, 14% good and 1% excellent. Flaxseed coloring was 95%, ahead of 79% last year and 85% average. Harvested was 10%, ahead of 4% last year.

Potato condition rated 6% very poor, 12% poor, 67% fair, 15% good and 0% excellent. Potatoes rows closed was 85%, behind 90% last year and 93% average. Vines dry was 11%, near 7% last year and 8% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 22% very poor, 33% poor, 33% fair, 11% good and 1% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 95%, near 91% last year and 97% average. Setting pods was 86%, ahead of 77% last year but near 87% average. Dropping leaves was 17%, ahead of 9% last year and near 16% average.

Alfalfa condition rated 41% very poor, 34% poor, 21% fair, 4% good and 0% excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 76%, behind 82% last year and near 77% average.

Lentils harvested was 43%, well ahead of 15% last year.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 61% very poor, 26% poor, 11% fair, 2% good and 0% excellent. Stock water supplies rated 63% very short, 28% short, 9% adequate and 0% surplus.

Minnesota

Scattered showers helped crops in some areas, but dry and hot conditions left most areas in need of rain, according USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 15.

Field activities for the week included making hay, harvesting small grains and harvesting corn for silage.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 46% very short, 38% short, 16% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 43% very short, 41% short, 16% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 65%, five days behind last year. Corn dented reached 13%, two days ahead of both last year and the average. Reports were received of corn being chopped for silage. Corn condition rated 35% good to excellent.

Soybeans setting pods reached 91%, six days behind last year but one day ahead of the five-year average. Seven percent of soybeans are already turning color. That is the highest percentage turning color by Aug. 15 since 1988. Soybean condition rated 29% good to excellent.

Spring wheat harvested reached 92%, at least three weeks ahead of both last year and the five-year average.

Dry beans dropping leaves reached 13%. Dry bean condition rated 17% good to excellent.

Oats were 86% harvested with barley 92% harvested. Harvest of both crops was nearly two weeks ahead of average.

Potatoes were 18% harvested. Potato condition rated 60% good to excellent.

Sunflower condition remained 29% good to excellent.

Sugar beet condition was 71% good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 92% complete.

Pasture and range condition: Pasture condition was 42% very poor, 35% poor, 16% fair, 3% good and 4% excellent. Some livestock operations have had to begin feeding hay due to poor pasture conditions.

Iowa

Although isolated areas of Iowa received substantial rain, statewide farmers had 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 15, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Some areas of the state had no measurable precipitation during the week. Due to drought conditions, haying and grazing of CRP land continues. Field activities included harvesting hay and oats.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 23% very short, 38% short, 38% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 27% very short, 40% short, 33% adequate and 0% surplus. Topsoil moisture levels in central and east central Iowa were the lowest in the state, with more than 80% rated short to very short.

Field crops report: Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 83%, one week ahead of the five-year average. Twenty-nine percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage, four days ahead of normal. There were scattered reports of corn reaching the mature stage. Iowa’s corn condition rated 58% good to excellent.

Soybeans setting pods reached 90%, one week ahead of normal. Across the state, there were scattered reports of soybeans coloring. Soybean condition was rated 58% good to excellent.

Oats harvested for grain reached 93%, three days behind the five-year average.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 54% complete, two days ahead of the five-year average.

Hay condition rated 55% good to excellent.

Pasture and range report: Pasture condition was rated 33% good to excellent. In some areas of the state, pastures have stopped growing due to lack of rain. No comments concerning livestock were received.

Nebraska

For the week ending, August 15, there were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 16% very short, 43% short, 41% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 16% very short, 48% short, 36% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn condition rated 4% very poor, 7% poor, 21% fair, 47% good and 21% excellent. Corn dough was 80%, behind 85% last year but ahead of 73% for the five-year average. Dented was 17%, behind 27% last year and near 21% average.

Soybean condition rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 20% fair, 53% good and 19% excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 89%, equal to last year and ahead of 82% average. Dropping leaves was 2%, equal to last year and near 1% average.

Sorghum condition rated 3% very poor, 10% poor, 28% fair, 46% good and 13% excellent. Sorghum headed was 89%, behind 94% last year but near 87% average. Coloring was 18%, ahead of 13% last year but near 20% average.

Oats harvested was 95%, near 98% last year and equal to average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 3% very poor, 4% poor, 25% fair, 47% good and 21% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 90%, near 93% last year. Setting pods was 83%, near 79% last year. Dropping leaves was 1%, behind 6% last year.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 7% very poor, 12% poor, 61% fair, 19% good and 1% excellent.