| BISMARCK -- The recent run of heavy rain has bolstered soil
moisture in the western half of the state but has caused
delays and other problems for farmers statewide, state
agriculture officials said.
The North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service said the
rains have slowed field activities in most areas.
The moist, cool weather has also increased the chances of
crop diseases showing up in the fields and hampered spraying
efforts, officials said. Broadleaf spraying is 50 percent
complete, while spraying for wild oats is at 62 percent, both
well below spraying rates at this time last year.
Topsoil moisture supplies are rated 74 percent adequate and
26 percent surplus compared to the five-year average.
Small grain crop development, except for oats, remains
below average. But late season crop development is near the
average pace, and the rain improved conditions of all emerged
crops, except soybeans, dry edible beans and sunflower,
officials said.
Pasture conditions continue to improve from the steady
moisture. Conditions were rated 1 percent very poor, 6 percent
poor, 23 percent fair, 54 percent good and 16 percent
excellent. |