Spring Planting Pushes Forward in North Dakota

According to the USDA, North Dakota farmers continued spring planting with 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Corn planting reached 41 percent, well ahead of average. Soybeans hit 26 percent, and spring wheat was 58 percent planted, with 20 percent emerged. Sugarbeets reached 77 percent planted, and durum wheat was 62 percent complete. Dry edible peas are 59 percent planted, nearly double the five-year average. Canola planting reached 27 percent, ahead of average, with 2 percent emerged. Topsoil moisture remains limited, with 56 percent rated short to very short, and 34 percent of pasture and rangeland is rated poor to very poor.