Minnesota had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending August 14th, according to the USDA. Reporters not that row crops were looking better after recent rainfall.
Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 7% very short, 21% short, 67% adequate and 5% surplus.
Corn silking was at 97%. Corn at the dough stage was at 44%, 6 days behind the 5 year average. Corn condition was rated 66% good to excellent.
Soybeans blooming or beyond reached 96%. Soybeans setting pods reached 77%, one week behind average. Soybean condition was 67% good to excellent.
In Iowa, widely scattered rain across the state resulted in 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Dry conditions continued to stress crops and pastures.
Topsoil moisture conditions were rated 24% very short, 29% short, 44% adequate and 3% surplus. The shortage of moisture was evident with over half of the topsoil considered short to very short in the Northwest, West Central, Central, Southwest, South Central and Southeast Districts.
Corn silking or beyond was 96%, 6 days behind last year and 5 days behind the 5 year average. Corn reaching the dough stage or beyond was at 72%, 3 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of average and 15% of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the dent stage, 4 days behind last year and 1 day behind the 5 year average. Corn condition dropped to 66% good to excellent, 7 percentage points below last week.
Iowa’s soybeans were 94% blooming, 12 days behind last year and 3 days behind average. Eighty percent of the soybean crop were setting pods, 8 days behind last year and 2 days behind the 5 year average. Soybeans coloring was at 1%, equal to last year and the average. Soybean condition dropped to 63% good to excellent, 8 percentage points lower than the previous week.