By Scout Nelson
Minnesota farmers experienced a significant setback in their fieldwork activities, managing only 0.7 days suitable for field operations for the week ending March 31, 2024.
The state was hit by a severe winter storm, resulting in several inches of snow covering the fields, which hampered any substantial progress in fieldwork. Despite these challenges, livestock management, including calving, continued to fare well under the adverse weather conditions.
Moisture levels varied across the state, with topsoil moisture supplies reported at 16% very short, 22% short, 57% adequate, and 5% surplus.
Subsoil moisture followed a similar pattern, with 20% rated as very short, 34% short, 44% adequate, and a minimal 2% surplus. These figures indicate a mixed scenario for soil moisture, crucial for the upcoming planting season.
In terms of crop progress, oat planting was at 6 percent, with 1% of oats already emerged. This rate is significantly ahead of schedule, being more than three weeks in advance compared to last year and nearly two weeks ahead of the five-year average.
This early start in oat planting suggests that, despite the setbacks from the winter storm, some farmers were able to take advantage of the few suitable days for fieldwork to get a jump on the season.
Photo Credit -istock-alenamozhjer.jpg
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Weather