Minnesota Ag News Headlines Hard Red Spring Wheat Harvest Officially Begins Minnesota Ag Connection - 07/28/2010 Harvest of the U.S. hard red spring wheat crop has officially begun. Reports indicate that about 6 percent of the crop has been harvested in South Dakota, ahead of last year, but down from the five-year average of 17 percent. Harvest has also begun in Minnesota with one percent of the crop harvested. Temperatures across the region were mostly below to near average last week, with scattered rain showers, some severe with hail and damaging winds. The U.S. crop is now 94 percent headed out; the crop is furthest behind in Montana where only 79 percent has headed out compared to an average of 95 percent. Percent of the crop turning color ranges from 10 percent in Montana to 93 percent in South Dakota. Crop development continues to be behind in every state except Minnesota. There are drier areas in North Dakota and South Dakota that could use additional precipitation, but the majority of the soil moisture conditions across the four-state region are rated adequate to surplus. Disease pressure appears to be minimal and not wide spread. The crop continues to be rated higher than average with 83 percent currently rated in good to excellent condition. The forecast for the current week calls for close to average temperatures with continued chances of scattered thunderstorms. The Northern durum crop remains in excellent condition, with 90 percent of the North Dakota crop and 73 percent of the Montana crop rated in good to excellent condition. Crop development continues to lag behind normal. In North Dakota, 85 percent has headed out, compared to the average of 88 percent and 3 percent is turning ripe, nearly two weeks behind the average of 27 percent. In Montana 72 percent has headed out, 20 percentage points behind the average and 7 percent is turning ripe, well behind the average of 51 percent. Copyright © 2010 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.