Weekly crop report; Corn 70 percent mature

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.

The average temperature for the week was 50.5 degrees, 1.8 degrees below normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday, October 3 were 7 percent very short, 22 short, 66 adequate, and 5 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week.

Field Crops Summary
As of Sunday, October 5, 70 percent of the corn was mature, compared to 98 percent last year, and 86 percent average. Three percent of the corn crop was harvested, compared to 22 percent last year and 11 percent average. Soybeans were 98 percent dropping leaves compared to 100 percent last year and 97 percent average. Eighty-five percent of the soybeans were mature, compared to 97 percent last year and 89 percent average. Soybean harvest reached 46 percent, compared to 64 percent last year and 50 percent average.

Sugarbeet harvest was at 38 percent complete, compared to 35 percent last year and 36 percent average. Sweet corn and canola harvests were 96 percent complete.

As of Friday, October 3, 66 percent of corn and 61 percent of soybeans were rated in good or excellent condition. Seventy-eight percent of sunflowers and sugarbeets, and 40 percent of pasture were rated in good or excellent condition.

Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table
Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 6.0

Soil Moisture Table
Very Short Short Adequate Surplus
Topsoil Moisture (%) 7 22 66 5

Crop Progress Table
Crop Progress as of October 5, 2008
Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr
Crop Development Week Week Year Avg
Percent
Corn Mature 70 41 98 86
Harvested 3 1 22 11
Moisture 28 N/A 21 23
Corn Silage Harvested 92 80 97 90
Soybeans Dropping Leaves 98 86 100 97
Mature 85 44 97 89
Harvested 46 8 64 50
Moisture 13 13 12 13
Sugarbeets Harvested 38 9 35 36
Potatoes Harvested 73 56 79 76
Sweet Corn Harvested 96 91 100 98
Canola Harvested 96 85 100 98
Dry Beans Harvested 90 69 83 78
Sunflowers Harvested 2 0 14 10

Crop Condition Table
Crop Condition as of October 3, 2008 in %
Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc
Corn 3 7 24 54 12
Soybeans 4 8 27 52 9
Sugarbeets 2 2 18 37 41
Sunflowers 1 4 17 63 15
Pasture 8 19 33 35 5

Weather Information Table
Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 9/29/2008 through 10/5/2008

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

CENT DIST 5
Becker 69 33 49.8 -2.3 .19 -.38 -.35 -1.16 2354 143
Collegeville 69 34 51.4 -3.7 .64 .01 .27 .68 2432 -43
Hutchinson 71 36 51.4 -2.6 .21 -.23 -.27 -1.34 2415 -24
Olivia 73 33 51.0 -2.2 .25 -.26 -.42 -.07 2280 -90
St. Cloud 68 31 48.8 -2.7 .33 -.24 .87 -.02 2222 67
Staples 70 30 47.5 -2.9 1.21 .60 .93 -1.72 1957 5
Willmar 73 38 52.5 -.7 .39 -.15 -.16 -3.74 2377 8

m=some data missing