Minnesota Ag Connection - Storms Cause Flooding in Some Minnesota Areas

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Storms Cause Flooding in Some Minnesota Areas
Minnesota Ag Connection - 09/27/2016

Above average rainfall has slowed the harvest in many areas across Minnesota during the week ending Sunday, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 3.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall to portions of central and southern Minnesota, leading to very wet conditions and flooding in some areas. The consistently wet conditions continue to raise concerns about mold in corn and soybeans, stalk problems in corn, and rot related to wet soil. The saturated soils have made fieldwork challenging, as harvest continues for corn silage, sugarbeets, potatoes, alfalfa hay, and dry edible beans. Other limited field activities include hauling manure, tillage, and cover crop work.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 42 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 32 percent surplus.

Seventy percent of Minnesota's corn acreage was mature, 6 days ahead of the five-year average and 3 days ahead of last year. There were reports of farmers beginning to harvest corn for grain throughout the state. Corn condition rated 84 percent good to excellent. Eighty-one percent of the corn for silage acreage was harvested, equal to last year. Eighty-three percent of the soybean crop was dropping leaves or beyond, 3 days ahead of average. Soybean harvest was 13 percent complete, 3 days behind average and 5 days behind last year. Soybean condition rated 79 percent good to excellent. The dry edible bean crop was 84 percent harvested, 10 days ahead of average, but 2 days behind last year. Ten percent of the sunflower acreage was harvested, 4 days ahead of average. Sunflower condition rated 58 percent good to excellent. Fifty-two percent of the potato acreage had been harvested. Fourteen percent of the sugarbeet crop was harvested. Sugarbeet condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 94 percent complete. Pasture condition rated 73 percent good to excellent, down 2 percentage points from last week. There were reports that pastures are still growing, but getting trampled into the mud in wet areas.

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