Minnesota Ag Connection - State Farmers Getting Caught Up on Spring Field Work

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State Farmers Getting Caught Up on Spring Field Work
Minnesota Ag Connection - 06/25/2019

Despite the overall unseasonably cool weather throughout Minnesota, there were 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Planting is winding down in Minnesota as operators turn to spraying their crops as conditions allow. Some side dressing of corn fields were reported. Cooler than normal temperatures are still slowing crop development, however crops continued to emerge this week and reporters have observed a small improvement in most crop conditions.

Topsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus.

Minnesota corn emergence reached 96 percent this week, 2 weeks behind last year and the 5-year average. Corn condition was rated at 59 percent good to excellent, slightly improved from the previous week. Soybeans planted neared completion, however there are still some acres intended to be planted. Eighty-seven percent of the soybean crop had emerged, nearly 2 weeks behind last year and the average. Soybean condition rated 66 percent good to excellent.

Sixty-seven percent of the spring wheat crop had jointed, 5 days behind average. Spring wheat headed reached 14 percent this week, 6 days behind normal. Spring wheat condition rated 83 percent good to excellent. Oats jointed stretched to 84 percent, 2 days behind the average. Oats headed were 32 percent complete, 4 days behind normal. Oat condition 69 percent rated good to excellent. Barley jointed was 75 percent, ahead of last year and virtually the same as the average, while barley headed reached 18 percent. Barley condition improved to 80 percent good to excellent.

Nearly all dry edible beans have been planted, while emergence reached 88 percent, 6 days behind normal. The first sunflower condition rating of the year came in at 0 percent very poor, 0 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 67 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Potato condition rated 91 percent good to excellent. Sugarbeet condition was rated 82 percent good to excellent.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay was 74 percent complete, 3 days behind last year and the 5-year average. All hay condition rated 75 percent good to excellent, improving from the previous week. Pasture condition rated 68 percent good to excellent.

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