Most of corn crop in or beyond silking stage

Mostly dry, cool weather during the week ending July 29, allowed for 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Field Office, Minnesota. Crops planted in sandy soil were showing signs of stress due to lack of moisture. Field activities for the week included spraying, cutting hay and small grain harvest.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 9 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 8 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 21 percent surplus.

Ninety-two percent of the corn crop was in or beyond the silking stage, remaining one week ahead of the five-year average. Twenty-three percent of the corn has reached the dough stage, 5 days ahead of average. Corn crop condition rated 79 percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 88 percent, 4 days ahead of average. Fifty-nine percent of soybeans were setting pods, 6 days ahead of average. Soybean condition rated 75 percent good to excellent.

Eighty-nine percent of spring wheat was coloring or beyond, 3 days ahead of last year. There were scattered reports of spring wheat harvest. Spring wheat condition rated 84 percent good to excellent. Oats were 90 percent in or beyond the coloring stage, 5 days ahead of average. Fifteen percent of oats for grain have been harvested. Oat condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Barley coloring or beyond reached 91 percent, with 5 percent harvested. Barley condition rated 85 percent good to excellent.

Seventy-five percent of the dry edible bean crop was blooming with 41 percent setting pods. Dry edible bean condition rated 83 percent good to excellent. Sunflower condition rated 76 percent good to excellent. Potato condition was rated 95 percent good to excellent. Sugarbeet condition was rated 76 percent good to excellent.