(ND Ag Connection) – By Scout Nelson

For the week ending August 11, 2024, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reported 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture was rated at 4% very short, 20% short, 70% adequate, and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture was similarly rated at 4% very short, 15% short, 75% adequate, and 6% surplus.

In field crops, soybeans were rated 1% very poor, 6% poor, 32% fair, 57% good, and 4% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 83%, behind last year’s 96% and the five-year average of 94%. Soybean setting pods were 56%, well behind last year’s 81% and below the 72% average.

Spring wheat conditions were rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 16% fair, 62% good, and 19% excellent. Spring wheat coloring was 82%, slightly behind the average, while 43% had matured, close to last year’s 47% but behind the 50% average. Harvest was 12%, equal to the average.

Durum wheat showed improvement, with 90% coloring, ahead of both last year and the average. The winter wheat harvest was 56%, ahead of last year and near the average.

Corn was rated 1% very poor, 5% poor, 25% fair, 64% good, and 5% excellent. Corn silking was 90%, slightly behind last year and the average. Corn in the dough stage was 20%, behind both last year and the average.

Other crops, such as canola, sugar beet, oats, barley, and dry edible peas, showed varying progress in their respective growth stages, with generally favorable conditions.

Pasture and range conditions were mostly good, with stock water supplies adequate for most areas.