USA: Hot weather helps Minnesotas barley harvest
The farmers fof Minnesota are getting help from the hot, dry weather as they harvest oats and barley, but the lack of moisture is putting stress on corn and soybeans, according to the weekly crop report said Associated Press on August 9.
A cold front brought scattered showers and cooler weather that gave some relief during the week. But it also brought strong winds that flattened corn in parts of western and south-central Minnesota, the report said.For the week, the average temperature was 72.9 degrees, 2.9 degrees above normal. As of Friday, statewide topsoil moisture was rated 10 percent very short, 26 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.
Harvesting of oats, barley and canola crops was ahead of schedule, and the state's corn and soybeans crops were developing ahead of normal schedule, according to the Minnesota Field Office for the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Barley was 49 percent harvested as of Sunday August 7.
About two-thirds of Minnesota's corn and soybean crops were rated in good to excellent condition.