Warm, dry weather speeds grain harvest

Published 9:35 am Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Warm, dry weather is allowing Minnesota’s small-grain producers to make good progress.

In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says 86 percent of spring wheat was harvested by Sunday, an 18 percentage point increase from a week earlier, while barley was 90 percent harvested, a 12-point gain.

Seventy-six percent of the state’s corn crop was at or beyond the dent stage of development, 20 points higher than a week earlier, but 15 points behind the five-year average.

Email newsletter signup

Ten percent of soybeans were mature, 18 points behind average, as the harvest began in some areas.

Statewide, 70 percent of corn and 66 percent of soybeans were in good to excellent condition, both down 2 points from a week ago.