Corn crop condition rated 76 percent good to excellent (Minnesota)

Dry weather conditions allowed for rapid harvest progress during the week ending Oct. 21, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Field Office, Minnesota. There were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Field activities for the week included harvesting corn, soybeans, potatoes, sunflowers and sugarbeets.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 26 percent surplus.

Corn harvested for grain was 35 percent complete, one week ahead of last year but equal to the 5-year average. Corn moisture content of grain at harvest averaged 20 percent, down 2 percentage points from last week. Corn crop condition was rated 76 percent good to excellent. Sixty-two percent of the soybean crop was harvested, 2 days behind last year and 10 days behind average. Soybean condition improved slightly to 72 percent good to excellent.

Sunflower harvest was 33 percent complete, 6 days behind average. Sunflower condition was rated at 69 percent good to excellent. Potato harvest was nearing completion at 95 percent. Sugarbeet harvest was 73 percent complete, 1 week behind average.