Minnesota farmers harvested nearly a third of the state's spring wheat crop, aided by the warm dry weather during the past week, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Farmers also made advances with harvesting other small grains as well as potatoes, canola and sweet corn crops. Nearly half of the corn crop was in the dough stage of development and soybeans were just starting to turn yellow.

The average temperature for the week was 69.4 degrees, 2.4 degrees above normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday, August 22 were 21 percent very short, 35 short, 43 adequate, and 1 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week.

Field Crops Summary
As of Sunday, August 24, 44 percent of corn was in dough stage compared to 89 percent last year and 69 percent average. Eight percent of corn was in the dent stage compared to 65 percent last year and 36 percent average.

Soybeans were 3 percent turning yellow compared to 17 percent last year and 10 percent average.

Spring wheat was 45 percent harvested compared to 92 percent last year and 73 percent average. Barley was 75 percent harvested compared to 99 percent last year and 85 percent average. Oats were 82 percent harvested compared to 98 percent last year and 91 percent average.

As of Friday, August 22, 62 percent of corn and 65 percent of soybeans were rated in good or excellent condition.

Eighty-five percent of spring wheat and 74 percent of barley were rated good or excellent.

Sixty-six percent of dry beans, 83 percent of sunflowers, 71 percent of canola, 77 percent of sugarbeets, and 33 percent of pasture were rated in good or excellent condition.

Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table
Days Suitable for Fieldwork: 6.7

Soil Moisture Table
Very Short Short Adequate Surplus
Topsoil Moisture (%) 21 35 43 1

Crop Progress Table
Crop Progress as of August 24, 2008
Stage of This Last Last 5 Yr
Crop Development Week Week Year Avg
Percent
Corn Milk 92 74 100 95
Dough 44 20 89 69
Dent 8 4 65 36
Corn Silage Harvested 7 1 17 7
Soybeans Setting Pods 97 89 99 98
Turning Yellow 3 0 17 10
Spring Wheat Ripening 97 83 100 99
Harvested 45 15 92 73
Barley Ripening 96 90 100 100
Harvested 75 39 99 85
Oats Harvested 82 57 98 91
Potatoes Harvested 19 7 28 25
Sweet Corn Harvested 34 22 55 49
Canola Harvested 16 1 56 52

Crop Condition Table
Crop Condition as of August 22, 2008 in %
Very Poor Poor Fair Good Exc
Corn 6 8 24 52 10
Soybeans 4 6 25 52 13
Spring Wheat 0 1 14 58 27
Barley 1 2 23 53 21
Potatoes 0 1 9 58 32
Sugarbeets 0 2 21 54 23
Dry Beans 4 5 25 48 18
Sunflowers 0 1 16 57 26
Canola 0 5 24 50 21
Pasture 12 19 36 31 2

Weather Information Table
Precipitation and Temperature Summary for 8/18/2008 through 8/24/2008

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 91 47 72.7 6.4 0 -.96 -3.02 -2.92 1834 112
Collegeville 91 50 72.0 2.7 0 -.88 -.83 .62 1883 -57
Hutchinson 90 47 71.6 3.2 0 -.90 -1.39 -3.33 1869 -62
Olivia 88 44 69.8 2.2 0 -.77 -1.05 -1.34 1753 -130
St. Cloud 91 44 70.2 3.9 0 -.92 -.57 -.88 1729 7
Staples 87 41 69.4 4.7 0 -.70 -2.45 -2.14 1490 -66
Willmar 89 49 71.2 3.2 0 -.87 -1.21 -4.23 1840 -37