Cool, wet weather hinders harvest progress (Minnesota)

Cool and wet weather conditions hampered harvest progress during the week ending Oct. 14, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Field Office, Minnesota. There were only 1.1 days suitable for fieldwork, the fewest days suitable this year since the week ending April 22 when there were no days suitable for fieldwork. The limited field activities for the week included harvesting corn, soybeans, potatoes, sunflowers and sugarbeets.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 56 percent adequate and 42 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 34 percent surplus.

Corn harvested for grain was 18 percent complete, 10 days ahead of last year but 1 day behind the 5-year average. Corn moisture content of grain at harvest averaged 22 percent. Corn crop condition was rated 75 percent good to excellent. Thirty-eight percent of the soybean crop was harvested, 1 day behind last year and 9 days behind average. Soybean condition was rated 70 percent good to excellent.

Sunflower harvest was 17 percent complete, 8 days behind average. Sunflower condition was rated at 69 percent good to excellent. Potato harvest was 93 percent complete, 1 day ahead of average. Sugarbeet harvest was 43 percent complete, 1 week behind average. Sugarbeet condition was 72 percent good to excellent.