It's a long time until harvest. Upper Midwest agriculturalists know from painful experience that a lot can go wrong until crops are in the bin. But for now, at least, the 2018 crop overall is faring well.
On balance, crops in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota have overcome a slow start to planting and are in relatively good shape, according to the weekly crop progress released Monday, June 18, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The report reflects conditions on Sunday, June 17.
Minnesota crops look particularly good. For example, 88 percent of corn in the state is in good or excellent condition, with 11 percent rated fair and just 1 percent considered poor.
North Dakota's corn crop is rated 81 percent good or excellent, 17 percent fair and 2 percent fair.
ADVERTISEMENT
South Dakota's corn isn't doing as well. But even so, two-thirds is rated good or excellent, with 32 percent fair and 2 percent fair.
Barley and oats also are in generally good shape across the region, although less so in South Dakota than elsewhere.
The report shows that Upper Midwest planting is virtually wrapped up. A small amount of soybeans still needs to be planted, as does about 25 percent of South Dakota's sunflower crop, however.
Here's what report says about spring wheat and soybeans conditions:
Spring wheat
Montana - Eighty percent was rated good or excellent, 16 percent fair and 4 percent poor.
North Dakota - Eighty percent was in good or excellent condition,18 percent fair and 2 percent poor.
Minnesota - Eighty-four percent was rated good or excellent, 16 percent fair.
ADVERTISEMENT
South Dakota - Fifty-two percent was in good or excellent shape, 37 percent fair and 11 percent fair poor. In addition, 48 percent of the state's wheat had headed, compared with less than 10 percent of the Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota crop.
Soybeans
North Dakota - Eighty-two percent was rated good or excellent, 15 percent fair and 3 percent poor.
Minnesota - Eighty-three percent was rated good or excellent, 16 percent fair and 1 percent poor.
South Dakota - Sixty-one percent was in good or excellent shape, 35 percent fair and 4 percent poor.
Read the entire report here.
