Though crops and pastures in parts of the Upper Midwest have rebounded after widespread mid-August rains, drought continues to plague much of the region, a new government report says.
The weekly crop progress report, reflecting conditions Aug. 27 and released Aug. 28 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, finds that big chunks of North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana remain short of both topsoil and subsoil moisture.
Sixty percent of subsoil in South Dakota is short or very short of moisture, with 43 percent short or very short of topsoil moisture.
Eighty-nine percent of subsoil in Montana is short or very short of moisture, with a whopping 97 percent short or very short of topsoil moisture.
Spring wheat North Dakota — Seventy-one percent harvested, compared with the five-year average of 61 percent.
South Dakota — Ninety-one percent harvested, compared with the five-year average of 85 percent.
Minnesota — Sixty-five percent harvested, compared with the five-year average of 75 percent.
Corn South Dakota — Forty-six percent was rated good or excellent, 30 percent fair and 24 percent poor or very poor.
Soybeans Minnesota — Seventy-two percent was rated good or excellent, 22 percent fair and 6 percent poor or very poor.
North Dakota — Fifty-one percent was rated good or excellent, 33 percent fair and 16 percent poor or very poor.