By Scout Nelson
As the first snow of the season fell over Minnesota, farmers were well into the final stages of the year's harvest, capitalizing on an average of 5.5 suitable fieldwork days for the week ending November 3, 2024. This report comes from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, which has been closely monitoring the progress and conditions in the area.
The week's weather included not only snow but also some rain, which slightly impacted the ongoing fall tillage, fertilizer applications, and manure hauling. Despite these challenges, the harvest operations are ahead of schedule, with significant progress noted in major crops.
The corn harvest, in particular, reached 95 percent completion, which is 12 days ahead of the previous year and more than two weeks ahead of the five-year average. The moisture content of the harvested corn remained stable at 16 percent.
Sunflower harvests also showed good progress, reaching 77 percent completion, aligning perfectly with the five-year average for this time of the year.
Moisture levels in the soil were varied, with topsoil moisture supplies reported as 24 percent very short, 39 percent short, 35 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture followed a similar pattern, rated at 21 percent very short, 38 percent short, 40 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.
These conditions reflect the broader climatic fluctuations affecting the region, which also contributed to some reported stress among livestock due to the changing temperatures.
As Minnesota's agricultural community moves past the peak of harvest season, the focus shifts to managing the aftermath of early snowfall and preparing for the colder months ahead. The efforts made by farmers to complete fieldwork efficiently under these conditions highlight the resilience and adaptability of the state’s agricultural sector.
Photo Credit:usda
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Corn, Livestock, Weather