Minnesota Ag Connection - Rain Limits Minnesota Fieldwork

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Rain Limits Minnesota Fieldwork
Minnesota Ag Connection - 08/30/2016

Periodic rainfall kept field conditions fairly damp, limiting Minnesota farmers to 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The wet conditions continued to be a challenge for the harvest of small grains and hay in some areas. There were some reports of disease in soybeans, particularly across southern Minnesota. Field activities for the week included harvesting hay and small grains, lifting sugarbeets, and harvesting sweet corn.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus.

Fifty-eight percent of the corn acreage was in or beyond the dent stage, 6 days ahead of the five-year average.Corn condition rated 85 percent good to excellent. Twelve percent of the soybean crop was turning color, 2 days behind the average and 5 days behind last year. Soybean condition rated 80 percent good to excellent. Eighty-eight percent of the spring wheat acreage had been harvested, 11 days ahead of average, but a week behind last year.

Ninety-three percent of the oat crop for grain was harvested, 3 days ahead of average, but 3 days behind last year. Barley harvest is nearing completion, with 96 percent of the crop harvested. Sixty-five percent of the dry edible bean crop was turning color, 8 days ahead of average. Dry edible bean condition rated 68 percent good to excellent. Sunflower condition rated 58 percent good to excellent. One-quarter of the potato acreage had been harvested, a week ahead of average. Potato condition rated 90 percent good to excellent, down 2 percentage points from last week. Five percent of the sugarbeet crop had been harvested. Sugarbeet condition was rated 87 percent good to excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 75 percent complete. Pasture condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.

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