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.

The average temperature for the week was 67.7 degrees, 1.1 degrees below normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday, July 4, were 3 percent very short, 21 short, 72 adequate and 4 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week.

Field Crops Summary
As of Sunday, July 6, the average corn height was estimated at 34 inches compared to 64 inches last year and 46 inches for the 5-year average. The average height of soybeans was 9 inches compared to 17 inches last year and 13 inches for the 5-year average.

Spring wheat was 56 percent headed compared to 94 last year and 78 average. Oats were 70 percent headed compared to 96 last year and 85 average. Barley was 56 percent headed compared to 94 last year and 78 average.

The first cutting of alfalfa reached 98 percent complete compared to 98 percent last year and 96 percent average.

As of Friday, July 4, 72 percent of corn and 68 percent of soybeans were rated in good or excellent condition.

Eighty-two percent of spring wheat, 79 percent of oats, and 81 percent of barley were rated in good or excellent condition.

Seventy-one percent of green peas, 54 percent of dry beans, 63 percent of sunflowers, 55 percent of canola, 69 percent of alfalfa, and 63 percent of pasture were rated in good or excellent condition.

Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table
Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 6.3

Soil Moisture Table
Very Short Short Adequate Surplus
Topsoil Moisture (%) 3 21 72 4

Crop Progress Table
Crop Progress as of July 6, 2008
Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr
Crop Development Week Week Year Avg
Percent
Corn Height (inches) 34 20 64 46
Soybeans Height (inches) 9 6 17 13
Blooming 9 N/A 35 21
Spring Wheat Jointing 91 82 100 96
Heading 56 25 94 78
Oats Jointing 94 84 100 97
Heading 70 35 96 85
Barley Jointing 88 77 99 94
Heading 56 21 94 78
Sweet Corn Planted 99 93 100 99
Alfalfa First Cutting 98 87 98 96

Crop Condition Table
Crop Condition as of July 4, 2008 in %
Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc
Corn 1 4 23 58 14
Soybeans 1 4 27 57 11
Spring Wheat 1 3 14 62 20
Oats 0 2 19 61 18
Barley 1 2 16 60 21
Potatoes 0 5 13 53 29
Green Peas 1 4 24 61 10
Sugarbeets 1 4 27 52 16
Dry Beans 1 6 39 46 8
Sunflowers 1 5 31 50 13
Canola 0 0 45 50 5
Alfalfa 1 8 22 54 15
Pasture 2 5 30 56 7

Weather Information Table
Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 6/30/2008 through 7/6/2008

Temperature Precipitation G D D
High Low Week Depart Week Depart From Norm Since Depart
Ave from Total Past Four Since May from
Norm Week Weeks 4/1 14 Norm

CENT DIST 5
Becker 87 50 70.0 1.3 0 -1.00 -2.56 1.11 775 -8
Collegeville 91 50 71.8 .8 0 -.94 -.87 2.56 807 -85
Hutchinson 89 50 70.4 -.9 0 -.94 -1.62 -.34 810 -92
Olivia 87 47 66.2 -4.5 0 -.93 -1.79 -.08 756 -134
St. Cloud 91 46 68.3 -.4 0 -.87 -1.32 .63 745 -38
Staples 87 44 66.1 -.3 .01 -.91 -.92 .33 609 -96
Willmar 89 53 70.0 -.5 0 -1.02 -2.91 -1.39 773 -101