Rain fell over most of the eastern half of the state last week, with more than an inch falling in the southern two-thirds of the Red River Valley. Precipitation exceeded two inches in Dickey, Sargeant and Cass counties, according to the latest crop weather report from the North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. Although harvest was delayed by the rain, most of the small grains and flax have been combined. Frost hit most of the state last week, with Bottineau checking in with a cool 22 degrees. The frost should accelerate the dry down of late season row crops like corn and sunflowers.
Harvest is well under way for many late season crops.
More than half of the dry edible beans have been harvested, as has a fifth of the soybean crop. Nearly 60 percent of potatoes and 10 percent of sugar beets have been dug. Three-quarters of the corn for silage has been cut. The corn for grain and sunflower harvests are just beginning. Ranchers were hauling hay and cleaning feedlots for weaning and cattle sales last week.