While things are seemingly moving from bad to worse condition-wise in the southern U.S. plains, our region is doing much better than the national average. Our struggle has been on the progress side of the coin. Even so, the USDA National Ag Statistics Service reports that we did see some action in the fields over the past week.
In Wyoming, 45{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} barley and 2{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of spring wheat is now planted. This is behind the five-year average of 47{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} and 9{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} respectively. 21{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of oats have been planted. This is actually above the five-year average of 13{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2}. 60{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of spring calves have been born. (See Report)
5{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of Montana’s sugar beets are planted with 58{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of the winter wheat still dormant. This is only slightly behind where we were last week for beets but 31{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} behind the 5-year average for breaking dormancy. 2{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of barley and 1{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of spring wheat has been planted. 65{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of spring calving is complete. (See Report)
62{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of South Dakota winter wheat has broken dormancy. That’s compared to last year’s 88{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} at this time and the 5-year average of 78{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2}. Barley and oats are both 3{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} seeded with 5{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of the spring wheat crop (down from the 10{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} 5-year average) in the ground. Calving is 52{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} complete. (See Report)
Things remain pretty quiet in North Dakota where the average starting date for fieldwork is expected to be April 29. This is eleven days later than last year and 8 days behind the five-year average. Topsoil moisture in the state is 47{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} adequate and 42{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} surplus. Producers are 57{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} done with spring calving. (See Report)
© Northern Ag Network 2011
Haylie Shipp
