VIDEO CROP STOP: Wheat yields strong in northern Red River Valley

RED LAKE FALLS, Minn. - Craig Schmitz of Red Lake Falls, Minn., was in his second day of wheat harvest on Aug. 8 and expected to take another week or so, depending on how much rain might come.

“It’s running in the mid-80s, I suppose,” said Schmitz, hopping off the combine to comment about the yields. “It’s pretty decent; it’s in the top five.” They got an inch on Aug. 9 and a half inch on Aug. 10. He expected to get going again by Aug. 14.

Schmitz, 48, farms with his wife, Deb, and father, Linus Schmitz, 76, and mother, Beverly. Schmitz had had about five inches of rain in recent weeks, so the wheat was pretty flat to the ground. “It’s pretty slow-going, because a lot of the crops are down pretty bad,” he says.

Wheat protein was running 14 to 14.5 pounds per bushel and test weight is around 60 pounds per bushel, a little lighter than normal with heavy rains. Soybeans were looking good. He imagines the yield might be in the 40-bushel-per-acre range.

The optimistic yield projections are “helping some, but not much” in the face of low commodity prices. Wheat prices locally were running about $4 per bushel, which is “a couple of dollars shy” where they should be to make money. “Hopefully, by mid-winter, something changes,” Schmitz said. He was making a few extra dollars by selling wheat straw to a neighboring farmer who resells it.

Here are state-by-state crop progress and condition reports from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, released Aug. 8.

Minnesota

Survey cooperators reported an average of 5.3 days available for fieldwork, with farmers cutting and baling hay, harvesting small grains and scouting and spraying for aphids. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions both were rated adequate to surplus in 93 percent of the state.

Spring wheat was rated 70 percent good to excellent, with 42 percent harvested, compared to 24 percent average for the date. Oats were 77 percent good to excellent, with 57 percent harvested, up from 45 percent for the five-year average at this date. Barley was rated 63 percent good to excellent, with 42 percent harvested, up from the 36 percent average.

Corn was rated 85 percent good to excellent, with 54 percent in the dough stage, about 6 days ahead of the 28 percent average for the date. Soybeans were rated 80 percent good to excellent, with 79 percent setting pods, compared to 65 percent average.

Sugar beets were 87 percent good to excellent. Potatoes were 92 percent good to excellent, with 6 percent harvested, compared to 4 percent average.

Dry edible beans were rated 71 percent good to excellent, with 24 percent fully podded, just ahead of 19 percent average for the date. Sunflowers were rated 57 percent good to excellent.

North Dakota

The northeast part of the state received 1 to 2 inches of rain during the week before Aug. 7, adding to flooding and crop disease concerns, and there have been more rains since. Meanwhile, western North Dakota continues dry. NASS reported 5.7 days during the week usable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture is 80 percent adequate to surplus, while subsoil was 81 percent in the two categories.

Winter wheat was 71 percent good to excellent, and 74 percent harvested, up from 21 percent at this date last year.

Spring wheat was rated 71 percent good to excellent, with 22 percent harvested, ahead of the 15 percent five-year average. Barley was rated 79 percent good to excellent, with 33 percent harvested, ahead of the 19 percent average. Oats were rated 65 percent good to excellent, with 44 percent harvested, above the 18 percent average.

Corn is rated 80 percent good to excellent, with 22 percent in the dough stage, compared to the 20 percent average for the date. Soybeans are 73 percent good to excellent, with 78 percent setting pods, ahead of the 72 percent average.

Canola is rated 78 percent good to excellent, with 76 percent turning color, compared to the 65 percent average over the past five years. Sunflowers are ranked 73 percent good to excellent, with 85 percent blooming, compared to 51 percent average. Flaxseed is rated 80 percent good to excellent, with 73 percent turning color, compared to the 44 percent average.

Dry edible beans rated 62 percent good to excellent, with 81 percent setting pods, ahead of the 67 percent average. Potatoes are rated 49 percent good to excellent, with 90 percent filling rows, compared to 79 percent at this date last year. Sugar beets are rated 67 percent good to excellent.

South Dakota

Northeast, east-central and western South Dakota picked up needed precipitation. Topsoil moisture declined to 48 percent adequate to surplus, with 14 percent of the state rated very short and 38 percent short.

Winter wheat was 92 percent harvested, ahead of the 81 percent average.

Corn condition was rated 55 percent good to excellent, with 47 percent now in the dough stage, compared to 28 percent average. Soybeans were ranked 57 percent good to excellent, with 78 percent setting pods, ahead of the 59 percent average.

Spring wheat was rated 39 percent good to excellent, with 73 percent harvested compared to 40 percent average. Oats were 54 percent rated good to excellent, with 87 percent harvested compared to 68 percent average for the date. Barley was rated 48 percent good to excellent, with 52 percent harvested, about equal to last year.

Sorghum was ranked 51 percent good to excellent, with 17 percent turning color, which compares to 9 percent average. Sunflowers were rated 49 percent good to excellent, with 56 percent blooming, compared to the 39 percent average.

Alfalfa was rated only 22 percent good to excellent, with 23 percent of the third cutting completed, ahead of the 18 percent average. Pasture and range conditions were rated 7 percent very poor, 18 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 38 percent good and 1 percent excellent.

Montana

The famous Pompey’s Pillar monument area, east of Billings, posted the highest amount of rain in the state - 1.49 inches for the week ended Aug. 7. The northeast part of the state is the only area not reporting brown and dry pasture. Hail came to the northeast and central parts of the state. Topsoil was rated 62 percent adequate to surplus, ahead of the five-year average, and subsoil was rated 61 percent adequate to surplus.

Winter wheat was 82 percent harvested, up from the 50 percent average for the date. Durum wheat was ranked 51 percent good to excellent, with 6 percent harvested, and no average available.

Spring wheat was ranked 66 percent good to excellent, with 19 percent harvested, compared to a 9 percent average. Oats were 66 percent good to excellent, with 25 percent harvested, compared to 16 percent average. Barley was rated 62 percent good to excellent, with 28 percent harvested, compared to an 18 percent average.

Sugar beets were ranked 87 percent good to excellent.

Lentils were 44 percent good to excellent, with 38 percent harvested, compared to a 29 percent average. Dry edible peas were rated 53 percent good to excellent, with 62 percent harvested, compared to 44 percent average for the date.

The state’s pasture and range is ranked 36 percent good to excellent, compared to a 42 percent average for the date.