Favorable soil helps ND crops grow

By Scout Nelson

North Dakota farmers encountered a week with only 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork ending June 30th, 2024. However, soil moisture conditions remained favorable.

Topsoil moisture was mostly adequate (75%) with some surplus (18%), while subsoil moisture mirrored this trend with 76% adequate and 14% surplus.

Crop development showed both positive signs and delays compared to previous years. Soybean emergence lagged slightly behind the historical average at 95%.

Spring wheat jointing and heading were also behind schedule at 75% and 29% respectively, although durum wheat showed earlier than usual progress in both categories.

Winter wheat followed a similar pattern, with heading near the average but coloring lagging behind. Corn development was also slightly behind schedule, with silking just beginning.

Canola development mirrored spring wheat, with blooming trailing the historical average. Sugarbeets, on the other hand, were in excellent condition, with nearly 80% rated as good. Oat and barley development showed promise, with jointing exceeding the average for oats and heading slightly ahead for both crops.

Dry pea and sunflower development fell behind historical averages, with blooming significantly delayed for peas and emergence slightly lower than usual for sunflowers.

Flaxseed emergence was good, but blooming lagged behind the historical average. Potato conditions were favorable, with emergence near the average and blooming exceeding last year's numbers.

Alfalfa cutting began, with the first cutting falling behind the historical average. Pasture and rangeland conditions remained good, with 60% rated as such. Stock water supplies were also mostly adequate at 81%.

North Dakota farmers navigated a week with limited fieldwork opportunities. Despite this challenge, favorable soil moisture conditions allowed for continued crop development, with some crops exceeding expectations and others experiencing slight delays compared to historical averages.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock