North Dakota Ag Connection - Freezing Temperatures Help N.D. Crop Dry Down

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Freezing Temperatures Help N.D. Crop Dry Down
North Dakota Ag Connection - 10/17/2017

For the week ending Sunday, producers made good harvest progress as dry conditions prevailed over much of the State, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The only exception was in the southeast counties as rainfall amounts ranged from a quarter of an inch to an inch. Freezing temperatures were received across North Dakota over the weekend, which killed standing crops and helped the process of drying them down. Producers were also completing fall tillage and applying fertilizer. Livestock producers were busy hauling hay and working calves. Temperatures across the State were cooler, averaging one to five degrees below normal. There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 26 short, 63 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 13 percent very short, 28 short, 56 adequate, and 3 surplus.

Corn condition rated 5 percent very poor, 10 poor, 27 fair, 51 good, and 7 excellent. Corn mature was 80 percent, behind 93 last year and 91 for the five-year average. Harvested was 8 percent, behind 19 last year, and well behind 29 average.

Soybean condition rated 4 percent very poor, 9 poor, 33 fair, 49 good, and 5 excellent. Soybeans harvested was 72 percent, behind 84 last year and 78 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 19 percent very poor, 18 poor, 32 fair, 30 good, and 1 excellent. Winter wheat planted was 86 percent, behind 91 last year. Emerged was 68 percent, behind 75 last year.

Sunflowers condition rated 7 percent very poor, 12 poor, 43 fair, 36 good, and 2 excellent. Sunflower bracts turning brown was 93 percent, equal to last year, and near 91 average. Harvested was 12 percent, behind 21 last year and 24 average.

Dry edible beans harvested was 94 percent, ahead of 86 last year.

Potatoes harvested was 93 percent, ahead of 77 last year and 85 average.

Sugarbeets harvested was 89 percent, ahead of 77 last year and 81 average.

Pasture and range conditions rated 24 percent very poor, 30 poor, 33 fair, 13 good, and 0 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 19 percent very short, 31 short, 49 adequate, and 1 surplus.

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