MN Crop Progress & Condition

Minnesota had 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork for the
week ending August 20, 2023, according to the
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Fieldwork included harvest of small grains and
chopping corn for silage. Some livestock producers
were hauling water and feed to pastures.
Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 19 percent very
short, 37 percent short, 44 percent adequate, and
0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were
rated 16 percent very short, 44 percent short,
40 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.
Corn in the dough stage reached 87 percent, 11 days
ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the 5-year
average. The dent stage reached 33 percent. Corn
condition rated 45 percent good to excellent. Corn for
silage harvest reached 5 percent.
Ninety-two percent of the soybean crop were setting
pods, 5 days ahead of last year but 1 day behind the 5-
year average. Soybeans reached 10 percent turning
color. Soybean condition was 53 percent good to
excellent.
Barley was 46 percent harvested and condition rated
61 percent good to excellent. Oats were 73 percent
harvested. Spring wheat was 41 percent harvested and
condition was 57 percent good to excellent.
Dry edible beans reached 92 percent setting pods and
24 percent dropping leaves. Dry edible beans condition
was 55 percent good to excellent. The potato crop was
10 percent harvested with condition of the crop rating
84 percent good to excellent. Sugarbeet harvest began
at 1 percent and the condition was rated 90 percent
good to excellent. Sunflower condition was 62 percent
good to excellent.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay was virtually
complete at 98 percent.