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.

The average temperature for the week was 68.9 degrees, 0.8 degrees below normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday, July 11, were 6 percent very short, 24 short, 66 adequate, and 4 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week.

Field Crops Summary
As of Sunday, July 13, the average corn height was estimated at 46 inches compared to 72 inches last year and 59 inches for the 5-year average. The average height of soybeans was 13 inches compared to 19 inches last year and 16 inches for the 5-year average. Twenty-eight percent of soybeans were blooming compared to 59 percent last year and 45 percent average.

Spring wheat was 4 percent ripening compared to 35 last year and 22 average. Oats were 13 percent ripening compared to 67 last year and 41 average. Barley was 5 percent ripening compared to 49 last year and 28 average.

As of Friday, July 11, 71 percent of corn and 69 percent of soybeans were rated in good or excellent condition.

Seventy-three percent of spring wheat, 77 percent of oats, and 73 percent of barley were rated in good or excellent condition.

Sixty-one percent of dry beans, 74 percent of sunflowers, 77 percent of canola, and 61 percent of pasture were rated in good or excellent condition.

Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table
Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 5.8

Soil Moisture Table
Very Short Short Adequate Surplus
Topsoil Moisture (%) 6 24 66 4

Crop Progress Table
Crop Progress as of July 13, 2008
Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr
Crop Development Week Week Year Avg
Percent
Corn Height (inches) 46 34 72 59
Silking 2 0 52 19
Soybeans Height (inches) 13 9 19 16
Blooming 28 9 59 45
Spring Wheat Jointing 96 91 100 99
Heading 75 56 99 93
Ripening 4 N/A 35 22
Oats Jointing 99 94 100 99
Heading 86 70 99 94
Ripening 13 N/A 67 41
Barley Jointing 95 88 100 98
Heading 72 56 99 92
Ripening 5 N/A 49 28

Crop Condition Table
Crop Condition as of July 11, 2008 in %
Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc
Corn 2 4 23 58 13
Soybeans 2 4 25 58 11
Spring Wheat 1 2 24 54 19
Oats 0 2 21 62 15
Barley 1 1 25 58 15
Potatoes 0 1 14 61 24
Sugarbeets 1 2 32 53 12
Dry Beans 1 2 36 54 7
Sunflowers 1 3 22 56 18
Canola 0 1 22 59 18
Pasture 4 7 28 55 6

Weather Information Table
Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 7/7/2008 through 7/13/2008

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 92 54 71.8 2.2 1.05 .09 -2.20 1.21 925 4
Collegeville 92 55 71.0 -1.0 .49 -.35 -2.36 2.21 952 -91
Hutchinson 92 54 72.3 .2 .69 -.17 -2.28 -.51 962 -92
Olivia 94 52 71.4 .1 .55 -.28 -2.37 -.36 903 -134
St. Cloud 91 50 68.8 -.8 .91 .16 -1.85 .79 876 -45
Staples 87 50 68.0 .7 .98 .13 -1.52 .47 736 -92
Willmar 93 54 72.0 .8 .37 -.51 -3.31 -1.90 924 -98