Minnesota crops improving after recent rainfall

Ask a farmer how much they pay attention to Minnesota’s weather in summer. When your livelihood is at the mercy of the whims of our Minnesota weather and climate, you keep an eye on the sky.

And this week’s Minnesota Crop Report has some relatively good news.

“Row crops were looking better after recent rainfall.”

That’s the line that jumps out of this week’s crop report. Rainfall totals (above) varied around Minnesota as usual, but several areas received multi-inch rainfall in the last week. This includes areas of southern Minnesota along and near I-90. And a swath of farm country on either side of the Highway 212 corridor from the southwest Twin Cities westward toward Granite Falls.

Here are some highlights from this week’s report released on Monday afternoon.

• 66 percent of corn is in good (54 percent) to excellent (12 percent) condition.

• 67 percent of soybeans are in good (57 percent) to excellent (10 percent) condition.

• 80 percent of wheat is in good (76 percent) to excellent (four percent) condition.

Here’s more detail from this week’s report.

Minnesota had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending August 14, 2022, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Reporters noted that row crops were looking better after recent rainfall.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 21 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 19 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

Corn silking was at 97 percent. Corn dough reached 44 percent, 6 days behind the 5-year average. Corn condition was 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 12 percent excellent.

Soybeans blooming or beyond reached 96 percent. Soybeans setting pods reached 77 percent, one week behind average. Soybean condition was 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 10 percent excellent.

Rainfall outlook for this week

Temperatures this week will generally run in the 70s for daytime highs across most of Minnesota. The best rainfall chances favor Thursday and Friday. Overall rainfall totals up to an inch look likely around most of Minnesota, with more than two inches possible up north.