Minnesota, one of the nation’s leading mink producing states, placed fifth in 2007 pelt production behind Wisconsin, Utah, Oregon, and Idaho, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Total state production for 2007 amounted to 218,500 mink pelts, down 10 percent from 242,950 in 2006.

Small grains started ripening this past week, well behind last year and the 5-year average pace, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Warm weather across the state continued to aid small grain development with nearly three quarters of the crop reaching the heading stage. Adequate topsoil moisture supplies across the northwest district have helped improve the crop condition rating in dry beans, sunflowers, and canola.

Based on July 1 conditions, the Minnesota SPRING WHEAT crop is forecast at 87.5 million bushels, up 13 percent from last year, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The yield forecast of 50 bushels per acre, is up 3 bushels per acre from last year. Acres for harvest are up 6 percent from 2007 to 1.75 million acres.

For the second time in three years, Lacey has topped Robust as the variety with the most acres planted to barley, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Lacey accounts for 54.6 percent of the state’s planted barley acreage, or 71,000 acres. Robust, last year’s top barley variety in the state, accounts for 27.8 percent of the state’s planted barley acreage or 36,200 acres. Total planted barley acreage for Minnesota in 2008 is estimated at 130,000 acres, unchanged from 2007.

Producers harvested 11 percent of the state's first cutting alfalfa during the past week, virtually completing the first harvest of the crop, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Warm, dry weather across the state aided small grains development with more than half of the crop reaching the heading stage. Producers were also able to finish planting sweet corn and continue spraying activities.

Nearly all strawberry lovers will tell you that the Minnesota strawberry season is just too short. It seems to sneak up in mid-June and pass by in a flurry of summer activities.

This year, however, a late crop is giving strawberry pickers a little more time to stock up on a favorite summertime fruit.

Most berry farms opened last week, a week or two later than usual, due to Minnesota’s cool spring. Because strawberries like cool weather, it’s having a positive effect on the 2008 crop.

“Living on the Land…An Expo for Rural Property Owners” will take place Sept. 6 at the Scott County Fairgrounds in Jordan, Minn. The expo will include exciting seminars on issues related to living on small acreages including livestock, crop production, season extension, zoning rules and many other topics.

In addition, there will be vendors showcasing products, programs, and equipment designed for acreage owners.

The Minnesota June 1 Grain Stocks Survey estimated SOYBEANS stored in all positions at 82.5 million bushels, down 41 percent from a year earlier, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The change in all soybean stocks levels from June 1, 2007, to June 1, 2008, was the largest one-year drop on record for June totaling 58 million bushels.

CORN stocks in all positions totaled 460 million bushels, virtually unchanged from a year earlier. On-farm storage of 330 million was also unchanged.

Minnesota CORN acreage is estimated at 7.8 million acres, planted for all purposes, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is down 7 percent from last year’s record level of 8.4 million acres. An estimated 7.25 million acres are expected to be harvested for grain.

SOYBEAN acreage in Minnesota is estimated at 7.1 million acres planted, up from 6.25 million acres planted last year.

SPRING WHEAT planted in Minnesota is estimated at 1.8 million acres, up 6 percent from last year.

Warm, dry weather helped small grain and row crop development advance this past week, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The majority of the state's spring wheat crop has now reached the jointing stage with one quarter reaching the heading stage. Producers were nearly able to finish planting sweet corn, and a significant percentage of first cutting alfalfa was completed by weeks end.