The southern half of Minnesota dealt with wet conditions last week limiting the number of days suitable for fieldwork to 3.8 during the week ending July 7, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Minnesota Crop Progress Report.

Warmer-than-normal temperatures over much of Minnesota aided crop development giving crops some much needed heating units. However, the wet conditions in the southern half of the state hindered fertilizer and spraying activities in the area.

Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated 61% to 62% adequate and 34% surplus.

Corn condition was rated at 60% good to excellent, a slight improvement from the previous week.

Nearly all soybeans emerged last week, with a few reports of some having started to bloom. Soybean condition rated 61% good to excellent.

Ninety-seven percent of the spring wheat crop had jointed, three days behind the five-year average. Spring wheat headed reached 75% this week, two days behind normal. Spring wheat condition rated 83% good to excellent.

Oats jointed stretched to 99%, now five days ahead of the average. Oats headed were 79% complete, three days behind normal. Oats turning color reached 4%, 10 days behind average. Oat condition was rated 72% good to excellent, improving from the previous week.

Barley jointed was 98%, four days ahead of the average. Barley headed reached 82%, now two days ahead of normal after being six days behind average last week. A few reports of barley turning color were received the first week of July. Barley condition rated 80% good to excellent.

Dry edible bean emergence was virtually complete this week, while 6% had started to bloom, five days behind the average. Dry edible bean condition was rated 65% good to excellent, falling from the previous week.

Sunflower condition rated 82% good to excellent, improving slightly from the previous week.

Potato condition rated 94% good to excellent.

Sugarbeet condition was rated 79% good to excellent.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay was 94% complete, two days behind last year and the five-year average. The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 19% this week, eight days behind normal.

All hay condition rated 78% good to excellent, improving slightly from the previous week.

Pasture condition rated 77% good to excellent, increasing from the previous week.

Source: USDA NASS Upper Midwest Regional Office, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.