Cool temperatures and wet soils continued to limit spring fieldwork across much of the state, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Statewide, on average, there were 1.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. As of May 4, land preparation and plantings for corn and soybeans remained well behind the 5-year average for that date.

The average temperature for the week was 43.1 degrees, 7.4 degrees below normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday were rated 0 percent very short, 1 short, 67 adequate, and 32 surplus.

Cool weather and late April rain and snow slowed spring fieldwork across the state, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As of April 27, land preparation and plantings for all crops were about two weeks behind the 5-year average for that date.

The average temperature for the week was 45.4 degrees, 1.9 degrees below normal. Statewide topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday were rated 0 percent very short, 3 short, 60 adequate, and 37 surplus.

More amber fields of grains will dot the U.S. landscape this summer.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Prospective Plantings report released March 31, U.S. farmers will plant 63.8 million acres of wheat in 2008, up 6 percent from 2007. In Minnesota the increase is anticipated to be 12 percent.

The reason? Skyrocketing market prices.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has published its 2008 Directory of Minnesota Organic Farms.  The
directory lists more than 200 of Minnesota’s certified organic producers, organized both by county and by the type of organic crops, livestock, fruits, or vegetables produced.  No farm was listed without its permission.

Prices received by Minnesota farmers for soybeans for March averaged $11.80 per bushel, an increase of 50 cents from the February price according to Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn was up 27 cents at a March price of $4.50 per bushel.

The all hog price for March was $42.80 per cwt., a decrease of $1.40 from the February price. The all beef cattle price for March was $81.60, no change from the February price.

The all milk price for March, at $19.00 per cwt., was down 50 cents from February.

WASHINGTON, D.C.- On the heels of last year’s record-high corn production, U.S. farmers intend to plant 8 percent fewer corn acres in 2008, according to the Prospective Plantings report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Producers plan to plant 86 million acres of corn this year. While 7.6 million acres less than 2007, this would still be the second-largest area since 1949.

The Minnesota March 1 Grain Stocks Survey estimated SOYBEANS stored in all positions at 184 million bushels, down 19 percent from the previous year’s record high level, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On-farm storage of 115 million bushels accounted for 62 percent of the total.

CORN stocks in all positions totaled 748 million bushels, an increase of approximately 5 million bushels from March 1, 2007. On-farm stocks at 520 million bushels accounted for 70 percent of the total.

Minnesota families who have owned their farms for 100 years can apply for the Minnesota State Fair's 2008 Century Farm program.

The Century Farm program recognizes family farms according to three qualifications. The farm must be: 1) at least 100 years old according to authentic land records; 2) in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years (continuous residence on the farm is not required); and 3) at least 50 acres. Since its inception in 1976, a total of 8,694 Minnesota farms have been designated Century Farms.

After planting the most corn acres since World War II last year, U.S. farmers are ready to shift their crop rotations again in 2008, putting in more soybeans and spring wheat, according to the latest survey by Farm Futures magazine.

Fourteen Meeker County 4-H’ers participated in the regional Dairy Bowl Contest March 1 in Foley. Two senior teams and one junior team competed against other teams from across the state.

One of the senior teams and the junior team will advance to the State Dairy Bowl Competition April 19 at Foley High School.

Senior team members include: Isaac Salfer of Dassel, Lucas Salfer of Dassel, Simon Kern of Watkins, Alan Barka of Litchfield, Anne Gathje of Richmond, Joe Gathje of Richmond, Matt Frenchick of Paynesville, and Max Johnson of Grove City.