Wheat harvest progressing behind a year ago

For the week ending July 15, there were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Northern Plains Regional Field Office, South Dakota. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 3 percent very short, 19 short, 71 adequate, and 7 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 5 percent very short, 21 short, 69 adequate, and 5 surplus.

Corn condition rated 3 percent very poor, 4 poor, 24 fair, 52 good, and 17 excellent. Corn silking was 48 percent, well ahead of 10 last year and 17 for the five-year average. Dough was 1 percent.

Soybean condition rated 3 percent very poor, 5 poor, 29 fair, 53 good, and 10 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 53 percent, ahead of 46 last year, and near 50 average. Setting pods was 9 percent, ahead of 4 last year, and near 6 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 4 percent very poor, 10 poor, 40 fair, 44 good, and 2 excellent. Winter wheat harvested was 20 percent, behind 39 last year, and equal to average.

Spring wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 10 poor, 36 fair, 47 good, and 4 excellent. Spring wheat headed was 96 percent, near 99 last year, and equal to average.

Oats condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 27 fair, 63 good, and 6 excellent. Oats harvested was 6 percent, near 9 last year, and behind 11 average.

Sorghum condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 24 fair, 72 good, and 1 excellent. Sorghum headed was 11 percent, ahead of 5 last year, but behind 17 average.