Weekly crop report; Sweet corn harvest starting

Sweet corn harvest started as five percent of the crop was harvested during the past week, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ripening of small grain crops advanced 17 to 22 percentage points during the week and corn silking advanced 48 percentage points, aided by warm weather.

The average temperature for the week was 71.1 degrees, 0.9 degrees above normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday, Aug. 1, were 8 percent very short, 21 short, 68 adequate, and 3 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week.

Field Crops Summary
As of Sunday, Aug. 3, 82 percent of corn was silking compared to 99 percent last year and 95 percent average. Eleven percent of corn was in milk stage compared to 65 percent last year and 40 percent average.

Soybeans were 88 percent blooming compared to 94 percent last year and 93 percent average. Thirty-four percent of soybeans were setting pods compared to 71 percent last year and 58 percent average.

Spring wheat was 2 percent harvested compared to 24 percent last year and 16 percent average. Barley was 5 percent harvested compared to 53 percent last year and 32 percent average. Oats were 19 percent harvested compared to 69 percent last year and 47 percent average.

As of Friday, Aug. 1, 72 percent of corn and 74 percent of soybeans were rated in good or excellent condition.

Eighty-four percent of spring wheat, 81 percent of barley, and 75 percent of oats were rated in good or excellent condition.

Seventy-two percent of dry beans, 69 percent of sunflowers, 62 percent of canola, and 55 percent of pasture were rated in good or excellent condition.

Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table
Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.8

Soil Moisture Table
Very Short Short Adequate Surplus
Topsoil Moisture (%) 8 21 68 3

Crop Progress Table
Crop Progress as of August 3, 2008
Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr
Crop Development Week Week Year Avg
Percent
Corn Silking 82 34 99 95
Milk 11 N/A 65 40
Soybeans Blooming 88 71 94 93
Setting Pods 34 10 71 58
Spring Wheat Ripening 63 44 97 87
Harvested 2 0 24 16
Barley Ripening 70 53 98 92
Harvested 5 1 53 32
Oats Ripening 81 59 98 94
Harvested 19 4 69 47
Potatoes Harvested 1 1 8 3
Sweet Corn Harvested 5 N/A 27 11

Crop Condition Table
Crop Condition as of August 1, 2008 in %
Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc
Corn 2 6 20 54 18
Soybeans 1 4 21 57 17
Spring Wheat 0 1 15 60 24
Barley 1 2 16 53 28
Oats 1 3 21 55 20
Potatoes 0 2 13 56 29
Sugarbeets 0 2 23 61 14
Dry Beans 0 2 26 60 12
Sunflowers 0 6 25 53 16
Canola 0 8 30 40 22
Pasture 3 11 31 50 5

Weather Information Table
Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 7/28/2008 through 8/3/2008

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 89 53 74.4 4.4 .45 -.51 -1.53 -.41 1400 57
Collegeville 90 56 73.6 1.1 2.15 1.35 .23 2.79 1439 -69
Hutchinson 90 54 73.1 1.1 .58 -.30 -1.90 -2.24 1440 -74
Olivia 87 57 72.1 .9 1.43 .68 .46 .38 1355 -126
St. Cloud 89 50 71.8 1.8 2.52 1.74 .80 1.43 1322 -21
Staples 85 51 69.2 1.3 .03 -.72 -.75 -.41 1117 -92
Willmar 88 59 74.0 2.7 3.05 2.24 .62 -.77 1409 -60