Minnesota Crop Report ~ Ninety Percent of Potatoes in Good to Excellent Condition – After a wet June, consecutive days of sunshine during the week aided crop development, according to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Twenty-two percent of potatoes in the state are rated in excellent condition, sixty-eight percent are in good condition, nine percent fair, and one percent poor.
Fifty-five percent of spring wheat was rated in good condition, while 77 percent of barley was rated in good to excellent condition. As of July 4, spring wheat was 91 percent headed, compared to 28 percent last year and 62 percent for the five-year average, and 5 percent was ripening. Barley was 89 percent headed, 56 percentage points ahead of last year and 26 points ahead of average, and 6 percent was ripening.
Oats were 93 percent headed, 26 points ahead of last year and 15 points ahead of average, and 19 percent were ripening. Oats were rated with 65 percent in good condition. Producers across the south have begun to harvest small grains for forage in some areas.
Dry conditions reduced topsoil surplus moisture supplies to 32 percent compared to 35 percent last week; however, reporters noted that some low lying areas were still under water. Isolated thunderstorms on Thursday brought heavy rains across the north, and scattered rains prevailed statewide late Saturday and into Sunday, ending the warm, humid week. The statewide average temperature was 1.2 degrees above normal with 4.8 days rated suitable for fieldwork.
Corn was 2 percent silking with a height of 47 inches. Soybeans were 19 percent blooming with a height of 12 inches. Corn was rated 58 percent in good condition and 31 percent in excellent condition, while soybeans were rated 60 percent in good condition and 23 percent in excellent condition. Other crops remained in generally good condition statewide. The first cutting of alfalfa was 91 percent complete with 59 percent rated in good condition. Range and pasture was rated 2 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 26 percent excellent.
Source: Northern Plains Potato Growers