If you ask an Upper Midwest farmer how his or her spring-planted crops are faring this summer, you could get a wide range of answers.
North Dakota crops generally are doing well, with South Dakota farmers facing much less-favorable conditions and many ag producers in Montana and Minnesota falling somewhere in between.
The weekly crop progress report, released June 24 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, again found a mixed bag. The report reflected conditions on June 23.
The report found that North Dakota overall is enjoying favorable crop conditions. For instance, 70 percent of the state's soybeans is in good or excellent condition.
In contrast, South Dakota farmers - many of whom battled a wet spring that hampered and often prevented planting - have 55 percent of their soybeans in good or excellent shape.
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Here's a look at spring wheat, corn and soybeans, the region's three major crops. Keep in mind that crop conditions vary greatly within a single state.
Spring wheat
Minnesota - Eighty-three percent of spring wheat was in good or excellent condition on June 23, with the rest rated fair to very poor. Most of Minnesota's spring wheat is found in the northwest part of the state, which generally avoided the extreme moisture that plagued many farmers elsewhere in the state.
Montana - Fifty-five percent of spring wheat was rated good or excellent on June 23, the rest fair to very poor.
North Dakota - Eighty-two percent of spring wheat was rated good or excellent on June 23, the rate fair to very poor.
South Dakota - Seventy-seven percent of spring wheat was rated good or excellent on June 23, the fair fair to very poor.
Corn
Minnesota - Ninety-six percent of corn had emerged on June 23, compared with the five-year average of 99 percent for that date. Only 59 percent was in good or excellent condition, the rest fair to very poor.
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North Dakota - Ninety-five percent of corn had emerged on June 23, compared with the five-year average of 98 percent for that date. Seventy-three percent was rated good or excellent, the rest fair to very poor.
South Dakota - Seventy-nine percent of corn had emerged on June 23, compared with the five-year average of 99 percent for that date. Just 56 percent was in good or excellent condition, the rest fair to very poor.
Soybeans
Minnesota - Eighty-seven percent of soybeans had emerged on June 23, compared with the five-year average of 97 percent in the state. Sixty-six percent was rated good or excellent, the rest fair to very poor.
North Dakota - Ninety-two percent of soybeans had emerged on June 23, compared with the five-year average of 95 percent for that date. Seventy percent was rated good or excellent, the rest fair to very poor.
South Dakota - Fifty-seven percent of soybeans had emerged on June 23, compared with the five-year average of 95 percent for that date. Just 55 percent was rated good or excellent, the rest fair to very poor.
