ESTELLINE, S.D. -- The first-cutting harvest whizzed by at the M.A. Gorder Farms at Estelline, S.D., this year.
"First cutting of alfalfa, the first time out with this machine," says a smiling Max Gorder, 22, bumping along in a Klaas 850, a 2008 model the family had newly acquired.
The Gorders cut fields of alfalfa on June 1 and started chopping at about 6 p.m. on June 2, when the CropStop correspondent stopped by. They picked up three-quarters of an inch of rain since the finished chopping on June 6.
The Gorders are ahead of average for their state. National Agricultural Statistics Service this week reported South Dakota alfalfa cutting was 30 percent complete, ahead of 8 percent at this date last year.
Max and Mike have a cow-calf operation and finishing operation and grain farm that includes corn, soybeans and oats. Other key people who help with the operation are Max's brother-in-law, Austin Suther, and neighbor Merle Niemann. "It's been a good season, got the crop in with no problems, got the cows in the pasture," Max says. The crop seemed to be "tonning out" well, but they didn't immediately calculate yields.
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Max graduated in 2014 with an agri-business degree at Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, S.D., about 30 miles to the north. He joined his father, Mike, in Gorder Farms, which has been in the hands of someone with the name "M.A. Gorder" continually since the beginning in 1914. Max hopes it can stay around for a long time -- maybe reaching the two-century mark someday. "I won't be around for it," he says, but hopes to make it possible for someone else, perhaps with the M.A. Gorder name.
Here are highlights from the weekly National Agricultural Statistics Service survey of crop conditions and reports from throughout the region:
South Dakota The June 6 NASS report in South Dakota indicated insects becoming an issue for alfalfa, in addition to unfavorable moisture conditions for some. There were 4.4 days suitable for field work. Topsoil is 88 percent adequate to surplus and subsoil is 89 percent adequate to surplus.
Corn at 96 percent planted, about equal to the 97 percent average for the date. Corn was 85 percent emerged, equal to the five-year average for the date. Soybeans are 77 percent good to excellent, with 83 percent planted and 61 percent emerged, ahead of the 50 percent average for the date.
Spring wheat is rated 76 percent good to excellent, with 59 percent jointed. Oats are 74 percent good to excellent; 21 percent are headed compared to 14 percent average. Barley is 68 percent good to excellent, with 34 percent jointed. Sorghum is 80 percent planted, compared to 51 percent average, with 34 percent emerged, compared to 16 percent average.
Sunflower planting is 50 percent completed, ahead of the 33 percent average for the date. Pasture conditions are 79 percent good to excellent and stock water supplies are 90 percent good or better.
North Dakota Most of North Dakota received an inch of rain, but some areas received up 2 to 3 inches, drowning some crops. Temperatures ranged from 2 degrees below normal to 4 degrees above normal. There were 4.1 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture is 88 percent adequate to surplus and subsoil is 85 percent adequate to surplus.
Corn condition is 86 percent good to excellent, with 88 percent emerged, compared to the five-year 69 percent average. Soybeans are 81 percent good to excellent, with 75 percent emerged, ahead of the 39 percent average. Canola is 85 percent good to excellent, with 90 percent emerged, ahead of the 56 percent average.
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Winter wheat condition is 74 percent good to excellent, with 83 percent jointed and 17 percent headed. Durum is 78 percent good to excellent, with planting at 98 percent -- ahead of the 70 percent five-year average for the date.
Spring wheat is 84 percent good or excellent condition, with 30 percent jointed, ahead of the 19 percent average. Barley is 83 percent good to excellent, with 34 percent jointed, ahead of the 17 percent average. Oats were 84 percent good to excellent, with 43 percent jointed.
Sunflower planting is 81 percent completed, ahead of the 50 percent average, with 43 percent emerged.
Dry peas are 88 percent in good to excellent condition, with 93 percent emerged, ahead of 66 percent average. Dry edible beans are 90 percent planted, ahead of 60 percent average, with 62 percent emerged, ahead of 26 percent average. Potatoes are 94 percent planted, ahead of 74 percent average, with 53 percent emerged, ahead of the 28 percent average.
Minnesota Showers limited Minnesota to 3.3 days suitable for field work, with the northwest part of the state receiving large amounts of precipitation. Topsoil moisture is rated 78 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus, while subsoil is 80 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.
Corn is 77 percent good to excellent, up 6 percent from the previous week. About 85 percent of the soybeans had emerged, about 12 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean conditions are 74 percent good to excellent.
Spring wheat is 59 percent jointing, two weeks ahead of average, with conditions 74 percent good to excellent, up 4 percent from the previous week. Oats are 67 percent jointing, with 11 percent at or beyond the heading stage and conditions 84 percent good to excellent. Barley is 44 percent at or beyond the jointing stage, with 77 percent rated in good to excellent condition. Dry edible beans are 69 percent emerged, 10 days ahead of average.
Sunflowers are nearly planted and potato conditions are 87 percent good to excellent.
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Montana Montana saw warm, dry conditions that allowed for field work and good crop development. Hay cutting is starting ahead of normal and livestock is going to summer pasture ahead of normal, though some still have to provide supplemental feed.
Topsoil is rated 80 percent adequate to surplus, equal to the five-year average, while subsoil is 71 percent good to excellent, compared to the 78 percent average.
Winter wheat is 63 percent headed, compared to only 6 percent average for this date, with 65 percent rated good to excellent, compared to 59 percent average.
Barley is rated 70 percent good to excellent, compared to 56 percent average for this date; it is 7 percent in the boot stage, compared to 8 percent average. Spring wheat is 8 percent in the boot stage, compared to 5 percent average; it is rated 74 percent good to excellent, compared to the 56 percent average for the date.
Camelina is 62 percent emerged, 63 percent average. Canola is 75 percent emerged, 73 percent average. Flaxseed is 90 percent planted, 93 percent average; it is 67 percent emerged, 66 percent average. Mustard is 97 percent planted, 82 percent average; it is 85 percent emerged, 66 percent average.
Corn is 96 percent planted; 76 percent is emerged, compared to 71 percent average. Potatoes are 83 percent planted, 78 percent average. Sugar beets are 64 percent emerged, 90 percent average.
Dry edible beans are 13 percent blooming, 7 percent average. Lentils are 99 percent planted, with 89 percent emerged, 73 percent average.
