Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent

Hot, dry weather prevailed across most of Minnesota with only isolated precipitation during the week ending Aug. 12, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Field Office, Minnesota. There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Field activities for the week included harvesting small grains, cutting hay and spraying for aphids.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 8 percent very short, 20 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 6 percent very short, 16 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus.

Sixty-five percent of the corn has reached the dough stage, one week ahead of average. Corn dented was at 12 percent, 6 days ahead of average. Corn crop condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Virtually all of the soybean crop was blooming with 92 percent setting pods, 11 days ahead of average. Soybean condition fell slightly to 73 percent good to excellent.

Forty-seven percent of spring wheat has been harvested, one week ahead of average. Spring wheat condition rated 79 percent good to excellent. Fifty-five percent of the oats for grain have been harvested, 5 days ahead of last year. Oat condition rated 69 percent good to excellent. Seventy-one percent of barley has been harvested, 10 days ahead of average.

Nearly all the dry edible bean crop was blooming with 91 percent setting pods. Dry edible bean condition rated 76 percent good to excellent. Sunflower condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Potato condition was rated 93 percent good to excellent with scattered reports of potatoes being harvested in central Minnesota. Sugarbeet condition was rated 73 percent good to excellent.