More wet weather hampers harvest

The already late Upper Midwest harvest will be delayed even further after widespread, heavy rains in the middle of September. Crop conditions also suffered from the excess moisture.

The weekly crop progress report reflecting conditions as of Sept. 22 and released Sept. 23 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, found that some wheat farmers made some progress during the week before the heavy rains hit.

For example, Montana farmers had harvested 80% of their wheat on Sept. 22, up from 69% a week earlier. Even so, the 80% rate was still well below the five-year average of 95% for Sept. 22.

One example of how crop conditions slipped during the week: 61% of North Dakota's soybean crop was rated good or excellent on Sept. 22, down from 64% a week earlier. Area farmers - many of whom will have difficulties getting into soggy, unharvested fields - will pay close attention to crop conditions.

Here's a closer look at wheat, corn and soybeans, the region's three major crops.

Spring wheat

Montana: 80% of the crop was combined by Sept. 22, compared with the five-year average of 95%.

Minnesota: 94% of the crop was harvested by Sept. 22, compared with the five-year average of 98%.

North Dakota: 85% of spring wheat was harvested by Sept. 22, compared with the five-year average of 95%.

South Dakota: 99% of the crop was harvested by Sept. 22, the same as the five-year average.

Corn

Minnesota: 8% of corn was mature by Sept. 22, compared with the five-year average of 44%; 55% of the crop was rated good or excellent, the rest fair to very poor.

North Dakota: 5% of corn was mature by Sept. 22, down from the five-year average of 37%; 71% of the crop was in good or excellent shape, the rest fair to very poor.

South Dakota: 12% of corn was mature by Sept. 22, down from the five-year average of 44%; 66% of the crop was rated good or excellent, the rest fair to very poor.

Soybeans

North Dakota: 67% of soybeans had dropped leaves, down from the five-year average of 83%; 61% of the crop was in good or excellent shape, the rest fair to very poor.

South Dakota: 30% of the crop had dropped leaves, compared with the five-year average of 73%; 61% of soybeans was rated good or excellent, the rest fair to very poor.

Minnesota: 36% of soybeans had dropped leaves, compared with the five-year average of 65%; 55% of the crop was in good or excellent shape, the rest fair to very poor.