Warm temperatures and adequate moisture aided small grain development in Minnesota during the 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending June 28, 2015, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Progress and Condition Report.
Parts of Minnesota experienced severe weather, including high winds and hail, during the week leaving some farmers concerned about the potential damage to crops. Field activities for the week included spraying and baling hay.
Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 90 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus.
Minnesota’s corn condition rated 81 percent good to excellent.There were scattered reports of soybean’s starting to bloom, and soybean condition rated 77 percent good to excellent.
Small grain development remained ahead of the five-year average with approximately three-quarters of the crops in or beyond the heading stage. Barley condition rated 64 percent good to excellent. With a few reports of oats starting to turn color, oat condition rated 83 percent good to excellent. Spring wheat condition rated 84 percent good to excellent, up 8 percentage points from the previous week.
Dry edible bean condition rated 65 percent good to excellent. Potato condition rated 88 percent good to excellent, up 3 percentage points from last week. Sunflower condition rated 57 percent good to excellent, up 9 percentage points from last week. Sugarbeet condition rated 79 percent good to excellent, down slightly from the previous week.
The first cutting of alfalfa hay was 89 percent complete, 11 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the five-year average. There were reports the second cutting of alfalfa hay has begun. All hay condition rated 72 percent good to excellent and pasture condition rated 79 percent good to excellent, both up 2 percentage points from the previous week.
Source - http://www.agrinews.com/
