Minnesota Crop Progress

Unseasonably warm and dry conditions advanced
harvest progress during the week ending October 11,
2020, according to USDA’s National Agricultural
Statistics Service. There were 6.5 days suitable for
fieldwork, the most of any week this year. Field
activities included fall tillage, harvesting corn for grain,
soybeans, potatoes, sugarbeets, sunflowers, and dry
beans.
Topsoil moisture condition rated to 3% very short,
17% short, 76% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil
moisture condition rated 4% very short, 14% short, 78%
adequate and 4% surplus.
Corn for grain had reached maturity on 98% of the acres,
20 days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of the 5-
year average. The corn for grain harvest was 34%
complete, 20 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead
of average. Corn moisture content of grain at harvest
averaged 19%. Corn condition remained at 81% good to
excellent. One-quarter of Minnesota’s soybean crop was
harvested during the week ending October 11 with 87%
now harvested, four weeks ahead of last year and 17 days
ahead of average.
Sunflowers were 41% harvested, 25 days ahead of last
year and 8 days ahead of normal. Sunflower condition
declined slightly to 77% good to excellent. The potato
harvest was 95% complete, three weeks ahead of last
year and 9 days ahead of normal. Over one-third of the
total sugarbeet acres were harvested during the week,
advancing the total harvest progress to 86% complete.
This is 27 days ahead of last year and 15 days ahead of
normal.
The dry bean harvest was 97% complete, more than
5 weeks ahead of last year. Pasture condition increased
to 57% good to excellent.