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