Dry conditions help harvest of late season crops

FARGO, N.D. -- Dry conditions have allowed North Dakota farmers to continue a rapid pace of harvesting late season crops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop report that corn was 98 percent mature and 36 percent harvested, well ahead of last year and the five-year average.

The dry edible bean harvest was 95 percent complete. About 80 percent of soybeans had been harvested by the end of the week.

The report says pasture and range conditions continued to deteriorate because of lack of rain. Conditions were rated at 26 percent very poor, 36 percent poor, 30 percent fair, and 8 percent good.

Producers say rain is needed in most areas to improve soil conditions for fall tillage and winter wheat seeding.