The condition rating for most North Dakota crops has fallen sharply from a week earlier in the wake of excessive heat and just hit-and-miss rainfall.
The latest weekly crop progress report pegged the state spring wheat crop at just 55% good to excellent as of Sunday, down a hefty 12 points from a week earlier. Meanwhile, that portion of the crop rated in poor to very poor condition doubled from the previous week to 12%.
“Hot temperatures and variable precipitation (are) leading to crop stress in many areas and advancing crop maturity,” the North Dakota Wheat Commission said in its weekly update on Wednesday. "Much of the region would welcome additional precipitation and a period of cooler temperatures.”
The condition of the North Dakota durum crop also declined, also falling 12 points on the week to 76% good to excellent. The condition of the soybean crop dropped 11 points to 53% good to excellent, and corn was down 14 points at 63%.
The oat and barley crops were rated 56% and 50% good to excellent as of Sunday, compared to 65% and 63% a week earlier. The condition of the pea crop saw a particularly sharp fall, sliding 18 points on the week to 59% good to excellent.
The initial condition rating for the North Dakota canola crop came in at 62% good to excellent as of Sunday, while flax was at 76% and dry beans at only 45%.
Last week’s US drought monitor showed just over 29% of North Dakota impacted by abnormal dryness as of June 15, up from around 21% the previous. Only a very small fraction of the state (0.04%) was in any kind of drought. State topsoil moisture was rated 44% short to very short as of Sunday, up from 35% a week earlier.
