Rainfall boosts corn, soybeans development

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Steady rainfall early this week was welcome news for farmers in Otter Tail County and a boost to corn and soybean development. Even before the rainfall, on a statewide basis, 68 percent of corn and 71 percent of soybeans were rated in good or excellent condition.

“The rainfall on Monday will benefit the corn crops tremendously, and also will help alfalfa and pastures,” Extension Educator Doug Holen said. “Even the limited rainfall we had Friday and Saturday was a benefit to some farmers in Otter Tail County.”

He said the only downside to the recent rains is a delay in the wheat harvest.

“But overall, the rainfall Monday was really welcome, and even wheat growers agree with that,” Holen said.

In its weekly crop report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Minnesota field office said corn silking advanced 14 percentage points and soybean blooming advanced eight percentage points from the previous week.

However, some parched corn in eastern Otter Tail County cannot be saved, even with the recent rainfall. Much of that corn, near Parkers Prairie and other areas, is entirely yellow and will be cut and used as silage.

As of Sunday, 35 percent of corn statewide was in the milk stage, compared with 89 percent last year and a 71 percent average. Four percent of corn was in the dough stage, compared with 47 percent last year and a 25 percent average. Soybeans were 62 percent setting pods, compared with 87 percent last year and an 81 percent average.

Spring wheat was seven percent harvested, compared with 49 percent last year and a 36 percent average. Barley was 19 percent harvested, compared with 81 percent last year and a 56 percent average. Oats were 35 percent harvested, compared with 87 percent last year and a 67 percent average.

Eighty-three percent of spring wheat and barley, and 71 percent of oats were rated in good or excellent condition, according to the Associated Press.

Sixty-nine percent of dry beans, 78 percent of sunflowers, 75 percent of canola and 46 percent of pasture were rated in good or excellent condition.

The average temperature for the week was 68.6 degrees, which was only one degree below normal. Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies as of Friday were 12 percent very short, 29 percent short, 57 percent adequate, and two percent surplus.

The USDA reported an average of 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, on a statewide basis.