May 25, 2013

North Dakota harvest underway, pasture conditions decline

Crops

As of Sunday, eighty percent of the corn crop was mature, up 32 percentage points from last week and ahead of the five-year (2007-2011) average of 21 percent. Harvest of corn progressed 8 percentage points from last week to 10 percent complete. Corn chopped for silage was at 57 percent complete, compared with 18 percent last year and 24 percent on average. Dry edible beans were 84 percent cut while harvest of the crop saw a gain of 31 percentage points from last week, reaching 72 percent complete on Sunday. Flaxseed was 93 percent harvested, up from 80 percent last week. Potatoes were 32 percent dug, compared with 18 percent last year and the average of 25 percent. Ninety-three percent of the soybean crop was dropping leaves on Sunday while 28 percent had been harvested, up from 4 percent harvested last week. Fourteen percent of the sugarbeet crop had been lifted, ahead of 3 percent last year and 7 percent on average. Fifty-four percent of the sunflower crop had bracts turned brown, an increase of 27 percentage points from last week.

Livestock

The decline in pasture conditions and water supplies continued as a consequence of insufficient rainfall. Pasture and range conditions were 22 percent very poor, 41 poor, 27 fair, and 10 good. Stockwater supplies were rated 16 percent very short, 39 short, 44 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Source: USDA NASS ND Field Office

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90 percent South Dakota corn silage cut, slight stock water improvements

Crops

Dry conditions helped with the progress of row crop harvest with corn harvested at 19 percent, up from the 7 percent from the previous week. Corn harvested is well ahead of the five year average of 1 percent. Corn conditions saw slight improvement from the previous week at 18 percent very poor, 29 percent poor, 31 percent fair and 22 percent good to excellent. Corn in the mature stage was at 71 percent this week. Ninety-three percent of the corn silage has been cut. Soybean conditions also saw minor improvements with 14 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 33 percent fair and 25 percent good to excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was at 93 percent. Sixty-three percent of soybeans were rated mature compared to 34 percent the previous week. Soybeans harvested were at 15 percent, up from the 3 percent the previous week. Sorghum had 60 percent mature with 26 percent harvested. Ninety-three percent of the sorghum silage has been cut. Sunflowers were 98 percent in the ray flowers dry stage and 83 percent at the bracts yellow stage. Seventeen percent of sunflowers were rated mature, with 1 percent harvested.

Livestock

Cattle conditions were fairly constant with 66 percent good to excellent, 28 percent fair, and 6 percent poor. Sheep conditions were rated at 74 percent good to excellent condition, 20 percent fair and 6 percent poor. Slight improvements were seen in stock water supplies, feed supplies and range/pasture conditions. Stock water supplies were rated at 28 percent very short, 41 percent short and 31 percent adequate. Feed supplies were rated at 16 percent very short, 40 percent short and 44 percent adequate to surplus. Range and pasture conditions were rated at 37 percent very poor, 36 percent poor, 23 percent fair and 4 percent good.

Source: USDA NASS SD Field Office

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North & South Dakota pasture and range conditions improved

North Dakota

Pasture and range conditions were 16 percent very poor, 31 poor, 36 fair, and 17 good. The second cutting of alfalfa was virtually complete at 95 percent. Stockwater supplies were rated 10 percent very short, 38 short, and 52 adequate.

South Dakota

Cattle conditions held steady at 69 percent good to excellent, 25 percent fair, and 6 percent poor to very poor. Sheep conditions were rated at 76 percent good to excellent condition, 20 percent fair and 4 percent poor. Stock water supplies were rated at 28 percent very short, 48 percent short and 24 percent adequate. Feed supplies were rated at 17 percent very short, 47 percent short and 36 percent adequate. Range and pasture conditions were rated at 34 percent very poor, 41 percent poor, 22 percent fair and 3 percent good.

Source: USDA NASS ND & SD Field Offices

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