MN Crop Progress

Abnormally cold weather abruptly ended sugarbeet
harvest, while improving harvest conditions for other crops
by allowing equipment into muddy fields. There were 5.3
days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending
November 10, 2019, according to USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities for the week
mostly consisted of harvesting crops, but there were
limited reports of some fall tillage and fertilizer application
happening earlier in the week before the hard freeze. The
crops coming out of fields are often reported as wetter than
usual for this time of year, with many producers looking to
dry their crop. However, those looking to dry their crop
may also face concerns of LP gas shortages.
Topsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short,
0 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 36 percent
surplus. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent
very short, 0 percent short, 64 percent adequate and
36 percent surplus.
Corn harvested for grain reached 63 percent, 11 days
behind the average. Corn moisture content of grain at
harvest averaged 22 percent, remaining the same as the
previous week. Ninety-one percent of the soybean crop
has been harvested, 9 days behind last year and 15 days
behind normal.
Dry edible beans harvested reached 88 percent this week,
38 days behind the average. Sunflowers harvested reached
50 percent this week, 20 days behind normal. Sugarbeet
harvest wrapped up this week as some harvest activity took
place early in the week, but was halted in the middle of the
week when Minnesota was hit by a cold front that has led
to a hard sustaining freeze.