Agriculture

Minnesota's soybean harvest progressed rapidly this past week, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Nearly 40 percent of the soybean crop was harvested during the week ending October 5. The majority of the corn crop had reached the mature stage of development. Canola and sweet corn harvests were nearly complete.

Prices received by Minnesota farmers for Corn for September averaged $4.90 per bushel, an increase of 8 cents from the August price according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soybeans were down $1.00 to a September price of $11.70 per bushel.

The all hog price for September was $56.30 per cwt., a decrease of $8.70 from the August price. The all beef cattle price for September was $90.60 per cwt., a decrease of $1.10 from the August price.

Minnesota's sweet corn harvest was nearly complete, and corn silage and canola harvests were progressing well, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn and soybean crops were nearly half mature.

Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday, Sept. 26 were 8 percent very short, 20 short, 65 adequate, and 7 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week.

Field Crops Summary

Minnesota hog producers had an inventory of 7.7 million hogs and pigs on Sept. 1, 2008, up 5 percent from last year and also up 1 percent from the June 1, 2008, figure, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This equals the record high inventory for any quarter in Minnesota. Breeding hogs totaled 570 thousand head, down 7 percent from a year earlier and market hogs and pigs at 7.13 million head, were up 7 percent from a year ago.

By Nathan Winter, University of Minnesota Extension

By David Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension

As area soybean fields approach maturity the question that is often asked is “When are soybeans mature and when should harvest begin?”

By Gyles Randall, University of Minnesota Extension

With substantial increases in the prices of fertilizer nitrogen, farmers are encouraged to re-evaluate their nitrogen rates for corn for the greatest economic return on their nitrogen investment.

A handy, simple, and convenient tool to help growers arrive at the optimum economic nitrogen rate is the “Corn N Rate Calculator” found on the Iowa State University website at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/soilfertility/nrate.aspx.

Prices for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are high, so corn and soybean growers need to make certain that fertilizer is placed correctly for the 2009 growing season.

Dan Kaiser, University of Minnesota Extension soil scientist, encourages growers to take soil samples as a best management practice.

“If taken the right way, soil sampling can be a valuable tool in managing crops,” said Kaiser.

Kaiser makes the following soil sampling recommendations:

Minnesota producers continued harvesting canola, sweet corn, potatoes,
and dry beans during the past week, according to the Minnesota
Field Office National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Harvest progress was aided by warmer than normal
temperatures and little rainfall. Corn and soybean crop development
continued at a normal pace, but overall progress remained behind last
year and average.

The average temperature for the week was 61.6 degrees, 4.3 degrees
above normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday,