Crop Progress and Pasture Conditions

South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS — For the week ending May 17, 2020, there were 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 2 short, 77 adequate, and 21 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 2 short, 76 adequate, and 22 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn planted was 67 percent, well ahead of 15 last year, and ahead of 59 for the five-year average. Emerged was 20 percent, near 22 average.

Soybeans planted was 40 percent, well ahead of 3 last year, and ahead of 27 average. Emerged was 8 percent, ahead of 3 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 18 fair, 67 good, and 12 excellent.

Spring wheat planted was 91 percent, well ahead of 63 last year, and near 89 average. Emerged was 57 percent, well ahead of 23 last year, but behind 64 average.

Oats condition rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 16 fair, 78 good, and 6 excellent. Oats planted was 96 percent, well ahead of 54 last year, and ahead of 87 average. Emerged was 75 percent, well ahead of 25 last year, and ahead of 69 average.

Sorghum planted was 17 percent, ahead of 1 last year and 12 average.

Sunflowers planted was 3 percent, near 4 average.

Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 34 fair, 54 good, and 11 excellent.

North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. — For the week ending May 17, 2020, there were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 10 short, 67 adequate, and 22 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 3 short, 71 adequate, and 26 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Soybeans planted was 9 percent, behind 19 last year, and well behind 35 for the five-year average.

Spring wheat planted was 41 percent, behind 58 last year, and well behind 76 average. Emerged was 13 percent, equal to last year, and well behind 37 average.

Durum wheat planted was 47 percent, near 45 last year, but behind 59 average. Emerged was 14 percent, ahead of 5 last year, but behind 22 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 2 poor, 24 fair, 72 good, and 2 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was 30 percent, ahead of 18 last year, but behind 37 average.

Corn planted was 20 percent, behind 33 last year, and well behind 60 average. Emerged was 1 percent, equal to last year, and behind 14 average.

Canola planted was 23 percent, behind 41 last year, and well behind 55 average. Emerged was 6 percent, ahead of 1 last year, but behind 16 average.

Sugarbeets planted was 66 percent, behind 85 last year, and well behind 96 average.

Oats planted was 47 percent, equal to last year, and well behind 70 average. Emerged was 18 percent, ahead of 6 last year, but behind 31 average.

Barley planted was 33 percent, well behind 57 last year and 76 average. Emerged was 11 percent, near 9 last year, but well behind 36 average.

Dry edible peas planted was 49 percent, behind 56 last year, and well behind 75 average. Emerged was 18 percent, ahead of 3 last year, but behind 30 average.

Sunflowers planted was 2 percent, near 6 last year, and behind 15 average.

Flaxseed planted was 20 percent, behind 31 last year, and well behind 42 average. Emerged was 2 percent.

Potatoes planted was 35 percent, behind 53 last year, and well behind 56 average.

Dry edible beans planted was 3 percent, behind 17 last year and 21 average.

Due to wet conditions impeding harvest last fall, some crops remained in the field for harvest over the winter and in the spring. Corn harvested was 94 percent, up from 93 last week.

Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 20 fair, 67 good, and 8 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 0 percent very short, 4 short, 81 adequate, and 15 surplus.

Minnesota

Small grain planting progress rapidly advanced during the week ending May 17, 2020, according USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Field activities for the week included planting and spraying.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0% very short, 8% short, 79% adequate and 13% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0% very short, 3% short, 83% adequate and 14% surplus.

Minnesota’s statewide corn planting progress was nearing completion at 95%. Corn emergence reached 57%, which is 19 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the 5-year average. Soybean planting progress was 74% completed, just over 3 weeks ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of average. Soybean emergence reached 18%, which is 17 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of average.

Nearly one-third of the spring wheat crop was planted during the week ending May 17, 2020, making the statewide planting progress 70 percent complete. This is 1 day ahead of last year but 6 days behind average. Emergence, at 29%, was well behind average due to the cool weather. Oat planting progress and emergence both remained at least 2 weeks ahead of last year at 91% and 69%, respectively. Oats jointing were at 7%. Oat condition rated 68% good to excellent. Barley was 69% planted with 41% emerged.

Sunflower planting was 11 days behind average at 14% complete. Potato planting progress remained ahead of last year at 75% complete but fell a day behind average. Sugarbeets were 73% planted, 9 days behind average. Dry beans were 27% planted.

Hay condition was 1% very poor, 5% poor, 23% fair, 64% good and 7% excellent. Pasture conditions were rated 66% good to excellent.

Iowa

There were 4.3 days suitable for field work during the week ending May 17, 2020, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Windy days made spraying weeds difficult, but planting continued prior to most of Iowa receiving rain in the latter half of the week.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 2% very short, 7% short, 78% adequate and 13% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 1% very short, 6% short, 83% adequate and 10% surplus.

Iowa farmers have planted 96% of the expected corn crop, nearly a month ahead of last year and almost 3 weeks ahead of the 5-year average. Only Southwest Iowa has over 10% remaining to be planted. Corn emergence improved to 62%, almost double that of the previous week. The soybean crop moved to 86% planted, also nearly a month ahead of last year and 3 weeks ahead of average. Farmers in the northern one-third of the State have less than 10% of their soybeans left to plant. One-fourth of the soybean crop has emerged. Seeding of the oat crop is virtually complete, with 91% emerged. Oat condition rated 80% good to excellent.

Hay condition rated 71% good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 62% good to excellent. Warmer temperatures would help improve growth in pastures and hay fields. Livestock conditions continue to be good with little to no stress reported.

Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. — For the week ending May 17, 2020, there were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 3 percent very short, 20 short, 75 adequate, and 2 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 14 short, 82 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn planted was 91 percent, well ahead of 63 last year, and ahead of 78 for the five-year average. Emerged was 54 percent, well ahead of 22 last year, and ahead of 39 average.

Soybeans planted was 78 percent, well ahead of 34 last year and 42 average. Emerged was 29 percent, well ahead of 5 last year and 8 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 2 percent very poor, 9 poor, 22 fair, 59 good, and 8 excellent. Winter wheat headed was 5 percent, near 6 last year, and behind 23 average.

Sorghum planted was 28 percent, ahead of 15 last year and 22 average.

Oats condition rated 1 percent very poor, 6 poor, 25 fair, 63 good, and 5 excellent. Oats planted was 92 percent, near 88 last year and 94 average. Emerged was 82 percent, well ahead of 62 last year, but near 84 average.

Dry edible beans planted was 4 percent.

Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 19 fair, 72 good, and 6 excellent.