Minnesota Ag Connection - Cold, Wet Weather, Even Snow, Slow Minnesota Harvests

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Cold, Wet Weather, Even Snow, Slow Minnesota Harvests
Minnesota Ag Connection - 10/16/2019

Cold wet conditions and even some snow limited the number of days suitable for fieldwork to 2.7 during the week ending Sunday, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities for the week were minimal as already saturated fields received more precipitation. Reports of sweet corn harvest wrapping up were received this week.

Topsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 51 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 54 percent adequate and 46 percent surplus.

Corn dented or beyond was 98 percent, 2 weeks behind the 5-year average. Sixty-six percent of corn was mature, 20 days behind last year and 2 weeks behind normal. Corn harvested for grain reached 5 percent, 17 days behind last year and 13 days behind the average. Corn harvested for silage reached 78 percent this week, 2 weeks behind average. Corn condition was rated 52 percent good to excellent, declining from the previous week. Ninety-two percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, 2 weeks behind last year and 10 days behind normal. Nineteen percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, 16 days behind average. Soybean condition was rated 53 percent good to excellent, declining from the previous week.

Spring wheat harvest remained relatively stagnant, due to the weather and field conditions. Some harvesting progress was made in Eastern Minnesota for spring wheat, but at the state level remains short of being fully harvested.

Dry edible beans harvested reached 62 percent this week, 3 weeks behind the average. Sunflower condition rated 72 percent good to excellent, declining from the previous week. Potatoes harvested reached 82 percent, 8 days behind normal. Sugarbeet harvest was 31 percent complete, 10 days behind average. Sugarbeet condition was rated 81 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 53 percent good to excellent, declining from the previous week.

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