Mid-summer rains help some

It's an agricultural axiom that farming and ranching are a lot easier and more enjoyable when the right amount of rain falls when needed. Recent just-in-the nick-of-time rainfall in North Dakota's Burleigh County, surrounding Bismarck, is proof of that.

"The crops have picked up. They're looking better" after late June and early July rainfall that broke up, at least temporarily, a burgeoning drought, said Tyler Kralicek, Burleigh County agricultural and natural resources Extension agent.

Crop conditions across the region vary greatly -- some areas are too dry, some are too wet and some are doing wonderfully -- but crops overall are faring well, according to the most recent weekly crop progress from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The report, released July 13, reflected conditions July 12.

Continuing the season-long trend, crops in Iowa and Minnesota are faring best, with South Dakota and Montana crops doing relatively well, too. Crops in North Dakota continue to struggle, however, despite recent much-needed rains in parts of the state.

A few examples:

In Iowa, 83% soybeans were in good or excellent shape on July 12, compared with 67% of corn rated good or excellent in North Dakota.

For spring wheat, 76% of the Minnesota crop and 79% of Montana spring wheat were rated good or excellent on July 13, compared with 61 % in North Dakota and 59% in South Dakota. Corn and soybeans were faring much better in South Dakota, however.

The worsening early-summer drought in much of central and western North Dakota had been a growing concern. But widespread rains in the area in late June and early July helped crops to rebound in Burleigh, in south-central North Dakota.

Burleigh County ag producers raise many crops, including wheat, corn and soybeans, as well as livestock. The county also is among the national leaders in honey production.

Even so, prior moisture shortages had an irreversible effect. For example, hay and alfalfa fields generally have produced less tonnage than desired, though there's hope that second cuttings of alfalfa could be productive, Kralicek said.

But now, at least, farmers and ranchers in the county are grateful for mid-summer precipitation, though they realize crops aren't in the bin yet, Kralicek said.

"We're going to need more rain, especially for the later-planted crops." he said. "But things are looking a lot better than they had."

Here's a look at what the crop progress report had to say about conditions for spring wheat, corn and soybeans, the region's three major crops, on July 12.

Montana: 79% was rated good or excellent, 18% fair and 3% poor or very poor.

Minnesota: 76% was in good or excellent condition, 18% fair and 6% poor or very poor.

North Dakota: 61% was in good or excellent shape, 29% fair and 10% poor or very poor.

South Dakota: 59% was rated good or excellent, 28% fair and 3% poor or very poor.

Iowa: 83% was in good or excellent condition, 14% fair and 3% poor or very poor.

Minnesota: 83% was rated good or excellent, 14% fair and 3% poor or very poor.

North Dakota: 67% was in good or excellent shape, 27% fair and 6% poor or very poor.

South Dakota: 77% was rated good or excellent, 20% fair and 3% poor or very poor.

Minnesota: 85% was rated good or excellent, 12% percent fair and 3% poor or very poor.

North Dakota: 70% was in good or excellent shape, 24% fair and 6% poor or very poor.

South Dakota: 82% was in good or excellent condition, 15% fair and 3% poor or very poor.

Iowa: 83% was rated good or excellent, 13% fair and 4% poor or very poor.