Muddy field conditions hinder harvest (Minnesota)

Another week of scattered rainfall created muddy field conditions, making harvest a challenge in some areas during the week ending Sept. 30, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Field Office, Minnesota. There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Field activities for the week included harvesting corn, soybeans, dry edible beans, potatoes, sunflowers and sugarbeets. There were some reports of fall tillage work being conducted as well.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus.

Corn mature was at 87 percent, 12 days ahead of the five-year average. Harvest of corn for grain at 8 percent complete was over 2 weeks ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of average. Corn for silage harvest was 93 percent complete, 12 days ahead of average. Corn crop condition was rated 78 percent good to excellent. Ninety-four percent of the soybean crop was dropping leaves, over 2 weeks ahead of average. Twenty-seven percent of the soybean crop was harvested, 10 days ahead of last year and 1 day ahead of average. Soybean condition was rated 72 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-four percent of dry edible beans have been harvested, 15 days ahead of average. Sunflower harvest was 13 percent complete, 5 days ahead of average. Sunflower condition was rated at 67 percent good to excellent. Potato harvest was 81 percent complete, 5 days ahead of average. Sugarbeet harvest was 18 percent complete, 1 week ahead of average. Sugarbeet condition was unchanged, at 75 percent good to excellent.