Progress being made, but some crops may not make it

FARGO, N.D. -- Crops in the region generally are behind schedule, but the National Agricultural Statistics Service weekly crop progress and condition summary June 27 shows a bit of progress. Here is a state-by-state, crop-by-crop summary of the weekly report.

North Dakota

Farmers got an average of 3.4 days of field work in during the past week, but not all of those days were in the areas that were farthest behind. Topsoil moisture is 54 percent surplus and 55 percent surplus Towns with the highest precipitation in the past week: Cavalier, 3.75 inches; Dazey, 3.63; Bottineau, 3.58; St. Thomas, 2.92; and Carrington, 2.35.

The northwest district is 4.88 inches ahead of average since April 1, and the southwest is 3.83 inches ahead. No one is behind, and even a small area that was short of moisture east of Bowman now is rated "adequate."

The northwest growing areas show only 38 percent of the intended durum crop actually has been planted in the state. Northwest North Dakota is 80 percent planted.

The rest of the state is higher in percentage planted, but the bulk of production is in those two districts, according to the June 27 report. Only 60 percent of the intended durum is planted across the state, up from 44 percent the previous week, despite a statewide average of only 3.4 work days. About 48 percent of the durum crop is emerged, compared to a 100 percent average for the date. Only 13 percent is in the joint stage, 59 percent average; 1 percent in the boot stage, 27 percent average. Sixty-three percent is in the good to excellent condition ranking.

It's a similar story for dry edible peas. Only 76 percent of intended acres are planted, up from 61 percent the previous week. The northwest district is only 53 percent planted, and 60 percent are in good to excellent condition.

- Barley: 79 percent planted, up 2 percent from the previous week. About 75 percent is emerged, compared with 100 percent average for the date; 30 percent is jointed, compared with 81 percent average; 1 percent in the boot, 52 percent for the 2006 to '10 average. Condition: 74 percent good to excellent.

- Spring wheat: 90 percent is planted, 86 percent the previous week; 85 percent is emerged; 32 percent is jointed, 78 percent average; 1 percent boot, 49 percent average. Condition: 70 percent good to excellent.

- Oats: 80 percent planted, 76 percent the previous week; 77 percent is emerged; 31 percent is jointed , 81 percent average; 1 percent is in the boot, 50 percent average. Condition: 73 percent good to excellent.

- Canola: 80 percent planted, 76 percent the previous week; 75 percent emerged, 30 percent in rosette stage, 76 percent average for the date. Condition: 72 percent good to excellent.

- Corn: 98 percent planted, up from 91 percent the previous week. Condition: 68 percent good to excellent.

- Dry edible beans: 98 percent planted, 94 percent the previous week; 93 percent emerged and none blooming. Condition: 60 percent good to excellent.

- Dry edible peas: 76 percent planted, 61 percent the previous week; 59 percent was emerged, 1 percent flowering, compared with a 46 percent average for the date. Condition: 58 percent good to excellent.

- Flaxseed: 74 percent of the crop is planted, up from 64 percent the previous week; 67 percent emerged, none blooming compared with 9 percent average for the date. Condition: 55 percent good to excellent.

- Potatoes: 84 percent of acres emerged, up from 54 percent the previous week; none blooming compared with an average of 15 percent for the date. Condition: 51 percent good to excellent.

- Soybeans: 92 percent emerged, 64 percent the previous week; none blooming. Condition: 71 percent good to excellent.

- Sugar beets: 97 percent emerged. Condition: 59 percent good to excellent.

- Sunflowers: 86 percent planted, 78 percent the previous week; 65 percent emerged, 90 percent average. Condition: 60 percent good to excellent.

South Dakota

South Dakota's story this year is shorter-than-normal corn and beans that are behind, with 15 percent not yet emerged by June 27.

Only 2.2 days for fieldwork statewide in the prior week. Nearly 70 percent of reporting stations received 2 inches or better. Some of the wettest areas are the central, south-central and southeast regions with Pierre at 6.12 inches; Chamberlain, 4.64 inches; and Wessington Springs, 4.26 inches.

Almost every district had towns with 3.6 inches or better. Some of the notable totals included Timber Lake, 3.63 inches in the northwest; Faulkton with 3.8 inches and Roscoe, 3.3 inches in the north-central; Clear Lake, 3.7 inches in the northeast; and Milesville with 4.2 inches in the west-central areas.

- Winter wheat: 84 percent headed, 96 percent average; 6 percent turning color, 43 percent average. Condition: 77 percent good to excellent.

- Barley: 47 percent boot stage, 88 percent average; 4 percent headed, 49 percent average for the date. Condition: 70 percent good to excellent.

- Oats: 36 percent headed, 60 percent average. Condition: 69 percent good to excellent.

- Spring wheat: 82 percent boot, 91 percent average; 27 percent headed, 61 percent average. Condition: 72 percent good to excellent.

- Corn: 13-inch height, 21-inch average; 76 percent first cultivation or spray, 87 percent average; 17 percent second cultivation or spray, 28 percent average. Condition: 76 percent good to excellent.

- Soybeans: 95 percent planted; 85 percent emerged, 95 percent average. Condition: 69 percent good to excellent.

- Sunflowers: 88 percent planted, 88 percent average. Condition: 59 percent good to excellent.

- Alfalfa: 60 percent first cutting, 70 percent average. Condition: 78 percent good to excellent.

- Other hay: 25 percent cut, 33 percent average.

Minnesota

Crop development is lagging behind five-year averages because of cool, wet conditions, according to the report. Only 1.8 days were rated suitable for fieldwork in the week before June 26. Topsoil moisture is now 50 percent adequate and 50 percent surplus. Outstanding rainfall occurred in Canby, 4.1 inche; Faribault, 3.8 inches; Moorhead, 3.28 inches; and Marshall, 3.3 inches. Temperatures were 4.2 degrees below normal.

- Corn: 16-inch height, 29-inch average. Condition: 70 percent good to excellent.

- Soybeans: 5-inch height, 8-inch average. Condition: 67 percent good to excellent.

- Oats: 25 percent headed, 60 percent average. Condition: 76 percent good to excellent.

- Spring wheat: 10 percent headed, 45 percent average. Condition: 76 percent good to excellent.

- Barley: 49 percent joint stage, 79 percent average; 10 percent headed, 48 percent average. Condition: 77 percent good to excellent.

- Dry beans: 94 percent emerged. Condition: 62 percent good to excellent.

- Alfalfa: first cutting 80 percent, 86 percent average. Condition: 81 percent good to excellent.

- Potatoes: Condition: 83 percent good to excellent.

- Sunflowers: Condition: 52 percent good to excellent.

- Sugar beets: Condition: 68 percent good to excellent.

- Pasture: Condition: 88 percent good to excellent.

Montana

Farmers are facing stripe rust and other diseases but are getting some of the heat they need and less of the rains that have bedeviled them. Ekalaka, in the southeast, received 2 inches during the week, topping the rainfall charts, and temperatures hit the mid-80s through much of the state. Growing degree days are 10 to 20 GDDs below normal in the northeast and central district and 20 GDDs below normal in the southeast, except for Ekalaka, which is 40 GDDs below normal.

Farmers reported 3 percent hadn't been able to get in the fields yet, and 5 percent were just getting under way, while 92 percent were well under way, up from 86 percent the previous week.

Topsoil moisture remained 100 percent adequate to surplus for the week, above the five-year average of 71 percent. Forecast for July 4 to July 10 is for above-normal temperatures and precipitation east of the Continental Divide. Normal would be mid-70s to mid-80s and lows in the 40s to upper 50s.

- Barley: 91 percent emerged; 13 percent boot, 60 percent average. Condition: 70 percent good to excellent, 72 percent average.

- Corn: 88 percent emerged, 100 percent average.

- Dry peas: 99 percent emerged; 10 percent blooming, 53 percent average.

- Durum wheat: 91 percent emerged; 2 percent boot stage, 35 percent average. Condition: 80 percent good to excellent, 70 percent average.

- Lentils: 94 percent emerged; 7 percent blooming, 30 percent average.

- Oats: 87 percent emerged; 4 percent boot stage, 59 percent average. Condition: 68 percent good to excellent, 70 percent average.

- Spring wheat: 82 percent emerged. Condition: 56 percent good to excellent, 71 percent average.

- Winter wheat: 82 percent boot stage, 94 percent average; 44 percent headed, 76 percent average. Condition: 60 percent good to excellent, 63 percent average.

- Range and pasture feed conditions: Condition: 87 percent good to excellent, 65 percent average.