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Harvest wait continues for row crops in North Dakota

2008-10-13 06:37:00
Author: BizWire

Row crop farmers in North Dakota are torn between wanting a hard freeze so the dry down of the soybean and sunflower crop can begin, and not having a freeze yet, which would allow the corn crop to mature more.

In addition, wet conditions in many parts of the state for the week ending Sept. 28, kept farmers from harvesting, but did allow for some fall tillage and winter wheat planting, according to the North Dakota Field Office of the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Crop conditions

Farmers in the state were putting the finishing touches on the durum harvest, which was estimated to be 97 percent complete by Sept. 28 and the canola harvest was 96 percent complete. The service also noted that 39 percent of the corn crop is mature, which is lagging the five-year average (2003-2007) at this time of 68 percent. Nine percent of the soybean acres had been harvested compared to 29 percent last year and 26 percent on average.

The dry edible bean crop was 60 percent cut, compared with 82 percent at this time last year and the flax harvest had advanced to being 85 percent complete. Sixty percent of the potato crop had been dug and nine percent of the sugarbeets were lifted. The sunflower bracts had turned brown in 53 percent of the field, compared to 72 percent last year at this time and 65 percent on average.

Soil moisture conditions
 
Topsoil moisture conditions were rated at 18 percent very short, 15 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus for the week ending Sept. 28. This compares to the five-year average figures of 13 percent very short, 32 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.

Subsoil moisture supplies in the state were said to be 23 percent very short, 21 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus, versus the five-year average of 20 percent very short, 31 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Livestock conditions

The service reported that livestock producers were completing fall vaccinations and weaning calves, while others were hauling hay and cutting corn silage. Corn cut for silage was 68 percent complete, compared with 78 percent last year and the five-year average.

Pasture and range conditions were listed at 20 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 22 percent good and 4 percent excellent. Stockwater supplies improved during the week and were rated 59 percent adequate to surplus, compared with 77 percent last year and 63 percent on average.

Weather summary

Weather conditions during the week ending Sept. 29 were generally warmer than normal with at least some precipitation recorded in most areas of the state.

The warmest temperature recorded at the North Dakota Ag Weather Network (NDAWN) stations during the week was 87 degrees at Hettinger, while the low temperature of 31 degrees was recorded at Bowman.

All of the NDAWN stations reported at least some precipitation, with just 0.02 inches in the rain gauge at Hazen. Cavalier, however, recorded the most rainfall, with 3.83 inches.

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