Crop Progress and Pasture Conditions

South Dakota

Sioux Falls – For the week ending July 10, 2016, much-needed rain fell in parts of the State, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. However, statewide soil moisture condition improvement was minimal as the showers and thunderstorms were not widespread. Winter wheat harvest was ongoing and oats harvest began in some locations. Producers continued haying, crop spraying and side-dressing nitrogen in corn. There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 11 percent very short, 33 short, 53 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 10 percent very short, 28 short, 60 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 7 poor, 30 fair, 55 good, and 7 excellent. Winter wheat harvested was 21 percent, ahead of 7 last year and 12 for the five-year average.

Corn condition rated 3 percent very poor, 6 poor, 24 fair, 57 good, and 10 excellent. Corn silking was 19 percent, ahead of 3 last year and 8 average.

Spring wheat condition rated 2 percent very poor, 9 poor, 39 fair, 46 good, and 4 excellent. Spring wheat headed was 99 percent, ahead of 91 last year and 89 average. Coloring was 65 percent, well ahead of 45 last year and 35 average.

Soybeans condition rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 24 fair, 61 good, and 8 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 52 percent, well ahead of 31 last year, and ahead of 35 average. Setting pods was 5 percent, near 1 last year and 2 average.

Oats condition rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 27 fair, 63 good, and 3 excellent. Oats headed was 95 percent, near 99 last year, but ahead of 89 average. Coloring was 65 percent, ahead of 53 last year, and well ahead of 44 average. Harvested was 20 percent, ahead of 1 last year and 6 average.

Barley condition rated 0 percent very poor, 11 poor, 43 fair, 38 good, and 8 excellent. Barley jointed was 100 percent, near 99 last year. Headed was 89 percent, ahead of 78 last year and 75 average. Coloring was 40 percent, well ahead of 20 last year, and ahead of 25 average.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 2 poor, 33 fair, 65 good, and 0 excellent. Sorghum emerged was 95 percent, ahead of 86 last year, but near 94 average. Headed was 15 percent, equal to last year, but ahead of 8 average.

Sunflowers condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 44 fair, 49 good, and 1 excellent. Sunflowers emerged was 82 percent, near 84 last year.

Alfalfa hay condition rated 8 percent very poor, 18 poor, 50 fair, 24 good, and 0 excellent. Alfalfa hay second cutting was 34 percent, ahead of 15 last year and 26 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 5 percent very poor, 12 poor, 32 fair, 48 good, and 3 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 5 percent very short, 18 short, 75 adequate, and 2 surplus.

North Dakota

Fargo, N.D. – For the week ending July 10, 2016, average temperatures were near normal across much of the State, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Varying amounts of rainfall were reported with the southern and western parts of the State receiving much-needed moisture. The rainfall was accompanied by strong winds and hail in many areas. Significant amounts of moisture were again received in the northeast where soils were already saturated from previous storms. There were reports in those areas of standing water and drowned out crops. The recent moisture was beneficial to pastures but delayed crop spraying in many areas. There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 14 short, 70 adequate, and 12 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 18 short, 72 adequate, and 6 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 20 fair, 66 good, and 8 excellent. Winter wheat coloring was 70 percent, well ahead of 43 last year.

Durum wheat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 2 poor, 11 fair, 71 good, and 16 excellent. Durum wheat headed was 85 percent, well ahead of 54 last year and 39 for the five-year average. Coloring was 6 percent, ahead of 1 last year, and near 2 average.

Spring wheat condition rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 19 fair, 66 good, and 8 excellent. Spring wheat headed was 96 percent, ahead of 83 last year, and well ahead of 55 average. Coloring was 25 percent, ahead of 15 last year and 10 average.

Barley condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 15 fair, 71 good, and 10 excellent. Barley headed was 97 percent, ahead of 87 last year, and well ahead of 55 average. Coloring was 44 percent, well ahead of 9 last year and 11 average.

Oats condition rated 2 percent very poor, 8 poor, 21 fair, 64 good, and 5 excellent. Oats headed was 94 percent, ahead of 85 last year, and well ahead of 56 average. Coloring was 37 percent, well ahead of 12 last year and 8 average.

Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 17 fair, 66 good, and 12 excellent. Corn silking was 17 percent, ahead of 5 last year and 7 average. Previous week silking was revised downward to 15%.

Soybeans condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 21 fair, 63 good, and 10 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 50 percent, ahead of 41 last year, and well ahead of 28 average. Setting pods was 6 percent, ahead of 1 last year, and near 2 average.

Canola condition rated 0 percent very poor, 2 poor, 15 fair, 75 good, and 8 excellent. Canola blooming was 95 percent, ahead of 90 last year, and well ahead of 63 average. Coloring was 20 percent, ahead of 6 last year and 5 average.

Sunflowers condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 26 fair, 64 good, and 4 excellent. Sunflowers blooming was 10 percent, ahead of 1 last year.

Flaxseed condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 14 fair, 77 good, and 5 excellent. Flaxseed blooming was 80 percent, ahead of 66 last year, and well ahead of 39 average. Coloring was 4 percent, near 1 last year.

Dry peas condition rated 0 percent very poor, 4 poor, 13 fair, 72 good, and 11 excellent. Dry peas blooming was 97 percent, ahead of 84 last year, and well ahead of 65 average. Dropping leaves was 11 percent, ahead of 1 last year.

Dry edible beans condition rated 6 percent very poor, 6 poor, 24 fair, 53 good, and 11 excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 30 percent, ahead of 22 last year and 19 average.

Potatoes condition rated 8 percent very poor, 10 poor, 35 fair, 36 good, and 11 excellent. Potatoes blooming was 78 percent, ahead of 63 last year, and well ahead of 40 average. Rows filled was 15 percent, ahead of 9 last year.

Alfalfa hay condition rated 6 percent very poor, 14 poor, 31 fair, 44 good, and 5 excellent. Alfalfa hay first cutting was 92 percent complete, well ahead of 71 last year and 67 average. Second cutting was 11 percent, ahead of 3 last year.

Sugarbeets condition rated 2 percent very poor, 3 poor, 28 fair, 54 good, and 13 excellent.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 4 percent very poor, 10 poor, 29 fair, 53 good, and 4 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 5 percent very short, 18 short, 74 adequate, and 3 surplus.

Minnesota

Crop development remains ahead of average for corn, soybeans, and small grains for the week ending July 10, 2016, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Producers were limited to 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 7 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 13 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.

Sixteen percent of Minnesota’s corn acreage had begun silking, 3 days ahead of the five-year average and 4 days ahead of last year. Corn condition rated 81 percent good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from the previous week. Forty-eight percent of the soybean crop was blooming or beyond, 6 days ahead of average but 2 days behind last year. There were scattered reports of soybeans setting pods. Soybean condition rated 75 percent good to excellent, up 1 percentage point from the previous week. Forty-one percent of the spring wheat acreage was turning color, 9 days ahead of average and 3 days ahead of last year. Spring wheat condition rated 69 percent good to excellent. Fifty-five percent of the oat crop was turning color, 11 days ahead of average and 5 days ahead of the previous year. Oat condition rated 80 percent good to excellent, down 1 percentage point from the previous week. Forty-seven percent of the barley crop was turning color, 9 days ahead of average. Barley condition rated 68 percent good to excellent, down 2 percentage points from the previous week. Dry edible bean condition rated 66 percent good to excellent. Sunflower condition rated 50 percent good to excellent, down 7 percentage points from last week. Potato condition rated 89 percent good to excellent. Sugarbeet condition rated 86 percent good to excellent, up 6 percentage points from the previous week.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 62 percent complete, 9 days ahead of last year. All hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 76 percent good to excellent, down 2 percentage points from the previous week.

Iowa

Hit or miss rains allowed Iowa farmers 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending July 10, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included herbicide and insecticide applications to soybeans and second cutting of hay. There were scattered reports of crop damage due to strong winds and hail.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 5 percent very short, 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 4 percent very short, 17 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. South central and southeast Iowa were the driest areas of the State with 49 percent rated short to very short on subsoil moisture.

Twenty-nine percent of the corn crop had reached the silking stage. Corn condition rated 79 percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 40 percent, 2 days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Six percent of soybeans were setting pods, 4 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition rated 77 percent good to excellent this week. Nearly all of the State’s oat crop was headed. Oat acreage turning color reached 75 percent, with 16 percent of the oat crop harvested for grain or seed, 4 days ahead of last year. The statewide oat crop condition rating was unchanged from last week at 80 percent good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 67 percent, more than 2 weeks ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the average. The third cutting of alfalfa hay got underway this week. Hay condition was rated at 72 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition rated 61 percent good to excellent. Livestock were generally reported to be in good condition, benefiting from cooler temperatures.

Nebraska

Lincoln, Neb. – For the week ending July 10, 2016, rainfall at midweek brought an inch or more of moisture to most of the eastern half of the State, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation was lighter in western areas and missed much of the southwest. The midweek storms were accompanied by high winds, with lodging and greensnap reported in a number of eastern counties. Temperatures averaged near normal. Wheat harvest progressed northward into west central counties. There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 5 percent very short, 25 short, 68 adequate, and 2 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 18 short, 76 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 16 fair, 63 good, and 17 excellent. Corn silking was 29 percent, ahead of 17 last year and the five-year average of 22.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 17 fair, 71 good, and 12 excellent.

Soybeans condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 18 fair, 64 good, and 14 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 28 percent, behind 38 last year and 36 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 poor, 25 fair, 51 good, and 13 excellent. Winter wheat coloring was 99 percent, near 95 last year and 96 average. Harvested was 38 percent, ahead of 24 last year, and near 34 average.

Oats condition rated 1 percent very poor, 1 poor, 26 fair, 64 good, and 8 excellent. Oats coloring was 86 percent, ahead of 75 last year. Harvested was 26 percent, ahead of 13 last year, and near 24 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 3 percent very poor, 3 poor, 12 fair, 67 good, and 15 excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 60 percent, well ahead of 40 last year, and ahead of 48 average.

Dry edible beans condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 27 fair, 57 good, and 15 excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 2 percent, equal to last year, and near 4 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 2 poor,

19 fair, 64 good, and 13 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 0 percent very short, 5 short, 92 adequate, and 3 surplus.