Aug. 22: Crop progress and pasture conditions

South Dakota

For the week ending August 22, there were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 48% very short, 41% short, 11% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 48% very short, 39% short, 13% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn condition rated 14% very poor, 25% poor, 36% fair, 24% good and 1% excellent. Corn dough was 81%, behind 87% last year but ahead of 76% for the five-year average. Dented was 29%, near 27% last year and ahead of 24% average. Mature was 6%.

Soybean condition rated 11% very poor, 26% poor, 38% fair, 24% good and 1% excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 94%, near 92% last year and ahead of 88% average. Dropping leaves was 14%, equal to last year and ahead of 7% average.

Spring wheat harvested was 95%, ahead of 90% last year and 81% average.

Oats harvested was 95%, near 97% last year but ahead of 90% average.

Sorghum condition rated 13% very poor, 31% poor, 40% fair, 16% good and 0% excellent. Sorghum headed was 92%, equal to last year and near 90% average. Coloring was 30%, equal to last year and near 31% average.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 43% very poor, 38% poor, 14% fair, 5% good and 0% excellent.

North Dakota

For the week ending August 22, there were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 31% very short, 44% short, 25% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 49% very short, 38% short, 13% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Soybean condition rated 16% very poor, 36% poor, 36% fair, 12% good and 0% excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 93%, near 92% for both last year and the five-year average. Dropping leaves was 9%, near 6% last year and equal to average.

Spring wheat mature was 95%, ahead of 81% last year. Harvested was 73%, well ahead of 36% last year and 50% average.

Durum wheat condition rated 14% very poor, 36% poor, 22% fair, 26% good and 2% excellent. Durum wheat mature was 95%, well ahead of 72% last year and 75% average. Harvested was 57%, well ahead of 30% last year.

Winter wheat harvested was 94%, ahead of 82% last year and 85% average.

Corn condition rated 14% very poor, 34% poor, 36% fair, 16% good and 0% excellent. Corn dough was 75%, ahead of 59% last year and 62% average. Dented was 23%, ahead of 7% last year and 16% average. Mature was 2%.

Canola condition rated 19% very poor, 36% poor, 29% fair, 15% good and 1% excellent. Canola coloring was 92%, ahead of 84% last year but near 93% average. Harvested was 23%, ahead of 13% last year and equal to average.

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

Oats condition rated 29% very poor, 35% poor, 24% fair, 11% good and 1% excellent. Oats mature was 93%, ahead of 86% last year. Harvested was 66%, well ahead of 45% last year and ahead of 61% average.

Barley mature was 95%, ahead of 87% last year. Harvested was 78%, well ahead of 41% last year and ahead of 64% average.

Dry edible peas harvested was 84%, well ahead of 59% last year and ahead of 76% average.

Sunflower condition rated 6% very poor, 34% poor, 43% fair, 16% good and 1% excellent. Sunflowers blooming was 95%, equal to both last year and average. Ray flowers dry was 35%, ahead of 30% last year and near 32% average. Bracts turned yellow was 14%, ahead of 5% last year. Bracts turned brown was 1%.

Flaxseed condition rated 14% very poor, 38% poor, 34% fair, 13% good and 1% excellent. Flaxseed harvested was 43%, well ahead of 9% last year.

Potato condition rated 8% very poor, 14% poor, 63% fair, 13% good and 2% excellent. Potatoes rows closed was 90%, near 94% last year and behind 95% average. Vines dry was 20%, ahead of 11% last year and 15% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 18% very poor, 33% poor, 35% fair, 13% good and 1% excellent. Dry edible beans setting pods was 95%, ahead of 87% last year and near 94% average. Dropping leaves was 40%, well ahead of 19% last year and ahead of 35% average. Harvested was 1%.

Alfalfa condition rated 52% very poor, 31% poor, 13% fair, 4% good and 0% excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 82%, behind 90% last year and near 85% average.

Lentils harvested was 62%, well ahead of 35% last year.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 56% very poor, 28% poor, 13% fair, 3% good and 0% excellent. Stock water supplies rated 61% very short, 31% short, 8% adequate and 0% surplus.

Minnesota

Minnesota farmers averaged 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 22, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Some areas of the state received above normal rainfall and above normal temperatures occurred statewide. Field activities for the week included harvesting small grains and cutting corn for silage.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 44% very short, 38% short, 18% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 44% very short, 39% short, 17% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 86%, three days ahead of the five-year average. Corn dented reached 30%, the same as last year but two days ahead of average. Corn condition rated 34% good to excellent.

Soybeans setting pods reached 96%, two days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans turning color reached 20%, nine days ahead of average. Soybean condition rated 31% good to excellent.

Spring wheat harvested reached 98%, over three weeks ahead of both last year and the five-year average.

Dry beans dropping leaves reached 41%. Dry bean condition rated 19% good to excellent.

Oats were 95% harvested with barley 96% harvested.

Potatoes were 21% harvested. Potato condition rated 61% good to excellent.

Sunflower condition rated 31% good to excellent.

Sugar beet condition was 76% good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 96% complete.

Pasture and range report: Pasture condition was 46% very poor, 37% poor, 15% fair, 2% good and 0% excellent.

Iowa

Despite spotty precipitation, Iowa’s farmers had 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 22, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Field activities included harvesting hay and oats. Producers were utilizing the release of CRP land for haying and grazing.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 24% very short, 40% short, 36% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 27% very short, 42% short, 31% adequate and 0% surplus.

Northwest, central and east central Iowa had the lowest subsoil moisture levels in the state, with more than 80% rated short to very short.

Field crops report: Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 90%, six days ahead of the five-year average. Forty-seven percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage or beyond, four days ahead of normal. There were scattered reports of corn reaching the mature stage. Some producers have begun chopping silage. Iowa’s corn condition rated 58% good to excellent.

Soybeans setting pods reached 95%, eight days ahead of normal. Five percent of soybeans were coloring. There were a few reports of soybeans dropping leaves. Soybean condition was rated 61% good to excellent. Sudden death syndrome was observed in some soybean fields across the state.

Oats harvested for grain reached 97%.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 68% complete, three days ahead of the five-year average. Both mites and army worms have been spotted in alfalfa and grass hay crops.

Pasture and range report: Pasture condition was rated 31% good to excellent. Water for cows and calves on pasture has become an issue as some creeks and ponds dry up.

Nebraska

For the week ending August 22, there were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 15% very short, 39% short, 46% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 14% very short, 46% short, 40% adequate and 0% surplus.

Field crops report: Corn condition rated 4% very poor, 8% poor, 21% fair, 43% good and 24% excellent. Corn dough was 89%, behind 95% last year but near 86% for the five-year average. Dented was 41%, behind 56% last year and near 42% average. Mature was 1%, behind 6% last year and near 2% average.

Soybean condition rated 3% very poor, 7% poor, 21% fair, 49% good and 20% excellent. Soybeans setting pods was 93%, near 97% last year and 91% average. Dropping leaves was 4%, near 5% last year and 3% average.

Sorghum condition rated 4% very poor, 14% poor, 26% fair, 43% good and 13% excellent. Sorghum headed was 96%, near 98% last year and 95% average. Coloring was 35%, near 39% last year and 37% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 3% very poor, 5% poor, 26% fair, 45% good and 21% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 95%, equal to last year. Setting pods was 90%, near 89% last year. Dropping leaves was 4%, behind 20% last year.

Pasture and range report: Pasture and range conditions rated 10% very poor, 12% poor, 58% fair, 19% good and 1% excellent.