Wet weather limits fieldwork

Wet weather across much of the southern part of Minnesota limited the state to 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 24, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Field Office, Minnesota. Field activities for the week included side-dressing corn, applying herbicides and baling hay.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 59 percent adequate and 37 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 31 percent surplus.

Eighty-nine percent of the spring wheat crop is jointed or beyond, 5 days ahead of the 5-year average. Spring wheat headed reached 36 percent, 1 day behind last year but 2 days ahead of average. Spring wheat condition improved slightly from last week rating 86 percent good to excellent. Oats were 88 percent at or beyond the jointing stage, 2 days behind last year but 5 days ahead of average. Oats were 43 percent headed or beyond. Oats condition improved slightly from last week and was rated at 82 percent good to excellent. Ninety-eight percent of the barley crop was emerged with 75 percent at or beyond the jointing stage. Barley headed reached 27 percent, 3 days behind last year. Barley condition rated 84 percent good to excellent.

Corn condition decreased slightly to 84 percent good to excellent. The soybean crop was 97 percent emerged, 4 days ahead of average. Soybean condition also decreased slightly from last week and rated 79 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-eight percent of dry edible beans were emerged, 6 days ahead of the average. Dry edible bean condition rated 86 percent good to excellent. The planting of sunflowers was 97 percent complete, 1 day ahead of average. Sunflower condition improved from last week and was rated 72 percent good to excellent. Potato condition was rated 91 percent good to excellent. Sugarbeet condition was rated 74 percent good to excellent.