Though some Upper Midwest fields have rallied in the past week, regional crops overall continue to go downhill due to drought, according to new statistics released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The weekly NASS crop progress report, released Monday, June 26, reflected conditions on June 25 - and found that many of the region's crops are still struggling. Corn and soybeans, in particular, went backwards overall.
Spring wheat is a good example of how some fields have improved slightly, while others have declined or held steady.
In South Dakota, 62 percent of the spring wheat crop was in poor or very poor condition on June 25. That's a slight improvement from the 64 percent that rated poor or very poor a week earlier.
In Montana, 36 percent of spring wheat was in poor or very poor shape on June 25. That's slightly better than the 37 percent in poor or very poor condition a week earlier.
ADVERTISEMENT
In North Dakota, 27 percent of spring wheat rated poor or very poor on June 25, a slight decline from the 24 percent in poor or very poor condition a week earlier.
In Minnesota, none of the spring wheat was in poor or very poor shape on June 25 - the same as a week earlier. Minnesota's spring wheat is concentrated in the northwest corner of the state, which generally has avoided drought so far.
Drought shows up most noticeably in range and pasture conditions, and on balance they've worsened in the past week.
In North Dakota, 61 percent of range and pasture was in poor or very poor condition on June 25. Fifty-four percent rated poor or very poor a week earlier.
In South Dakota, 53 percent of range and pasture rated poor or very poor, up from 49 percent a week prior.
In Montana, 26 percent of range and pasture was in poor or very poor shape on June 25, the same as a week earlier.
Other crops raised in the Upper Midwest, including oats, barley, sorghum and winter wheat, are struggling, too, according to the latest NASS report.
Here's a look at June 25 conditions for corn and soybeans, which, along with spring wheat, are the region's three major crops:
ADVERTISEMENT
Soybeans
South Dakota - Twenty-one percent in poor or very poor condition, compared with 16 percent a week earlier.
North Dakota - Sixteen percent in poor or very poor condition, compared with 11 percent a week earlier.
Minnesota - Four percent in poor or very poor condition, compared with 3 percent a week earlier.
Corn
South Dakota - Twenty percent rated poor or very poor, up from 17 percent a week earlier.
North Dakota - Thirteen percent was in poor or very poor shape, up from 10 percent a week earlier.
Minnesota - Four percent rated poor or very poor, up from 2 percent a week earlier.
