Drier conditions finally prevailed throughout all of Minnesota leading to 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 3, 2019, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. 

Field activities for the week mostly consisted of harvesting crops, but there were limited reports of some fall tillage and manure spreading. The crops coming out of fields are often reported as wetter than usual for this time of year, with many producers looking to dry their crop.

Topsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 38 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 37 percent surplus.

Corn harvested for grain reached 44 percent, 11 days behind the average. Corn moisture content of grain at harvest averaged 22 percent, down 3 percent from the previous week. Corn harvested for silage reached 97 percent this week, 16 days behind normal. Corn condition was rated 56 percent good to excellent, a slight improvement from the previous week.

Eighty percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, 8 days behind last year and 2 weeks behind average.

Dry edible beans harvested reached 79 percent this week, 36 days behind the average. 

Sunflowers harvested reached 37 percent this week, 18 days behind normal. Sunflower condition rated 70 percent good to excellent, increasing from the previous week. 

Potatoes harvested reached 96 percent, 16 days behind average. 

Sugarbeet harvest was 70 percent complete, 3 weeks behind normal.