Weekly crop report; 41 percent of corn mature

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
As of Sunday, Sept. 28, 97 percent of corn had reached the dent stage compared to 100 percent last year, and 97 percent for the five- year average. Forty-one percent of the corn was mature, compared to 93 percent last year, and 72 percent average. Soybeans were 98 percent turning yellow compared to 100 percent last year and 98 percent average. Eighty-six percent of soybeans were dropping leaves compared to 98 percent last year and 89 percent average. Forty-four percent of the soybeans were mature, compared to 91 percent last year and 69 percent average.

As of Friday, Sept. 26, 65 percent of corn and 60 percent of soybeans were rated in good or excellent condition. Seventy-one percent of sunflowers, 75 percent of sugarbeets, and 37 percent of pasture were rated in good or excellent condition.

Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table
Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.4

Soil Moisture Table
Very Short Short Adequate Surplus
Topsoil Moisture (%) 8 20 65 7

Crop Progress Table
Crop Progress as of September 28, 2008
Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr
Crop Development Week Week Year Avg
Percent
Corn Dent 97 95 100 97
Mature 41 18 93 72
Harvested 1 0 13 6
Corn Silage Harvested 80 62 94 82
Soybeans Turning Yellow 98 92 100 98
Dropping Leaves 86 53 98 89
Mature 44 8 91 69
Harvested 8 1 32 22
Moisture 13 12 13 14
Sugarbeets Harvested 9 6 14 12
Potatoes Harvested 56 44 68 64
Sweet Corn Harvested 91 83 100 96
Canola Harvested 85 78 100 95
Dry Beans Harvested 69 48 64 62

Crop Condition Table
Crop Condition as of September 26, 2008 in %
Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc
Corn 4 8 23 54 11
Soybeans 3 8 29 51 9
Potatoes 0 1 5 58 36
Sugarbeets 1 2 22 49 26
Sunflowers 0 2 27 59 12
Pasture 7 16 40 36 1

Weather Information Table
Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 9/22/2008 through 9/28/2008

Temperature Precipitation G D D
High Low Week Depart Week Depart From Norm Since Depart
Ave from Total Past Four Since May from
Norm Week Weeks 4/1 14 Norm

Becker 84 45 63.8 9.3 .76 .12 2.07 -.78 2313 146
Collegeville 85 47 65.4 7.8 1.12 .44 -.34 .68 2392 -27
Hutchinson 85 47 65.6 8.9 .16 -.29 .41 -1.11 2367 -19
Olivia 86 42 64.2 8.5 0 -.57 .28 .19 2225 -95
St. Cloud 84 42 61.8 7.8 .77 .17 .54 .21 2189 77
Staples 82 43 62.8 10.1 .85 .25 .29 -2.32 1921 7
Willmar 86 45 64.6 8.7 .31 -.27 -.03 -3.58 2322 2

m=some data missing