Limited Pulse Seeding Progress

WASHINGTON - Jun 1/11 - SNS -- Limited progress was made seeding this year's dry edible bean and field pea crops in the United States during the past week, with many areas reporting conditions remain too wet for farmers to do as much work in fields as needed.

Crop reporters in Michigan started planting this year's dry edible bean drop during the week. Crops reporters in the state said, "Growers started off the week with a small window of opportunity to plant before the rain came later in the week. They continued to have a tough time getting field work and planting done amongst steady rain showers. Some aerial spraying of fungicides was done. Some fields of wheat had damage from storms and heavy rainfall over the weekend."

In Minnesota, many crop reporters "noted that it has been a tough, wet spring for planting. Planting progress was highly variable with only a few available days at a time. Cool temperatures slowed recovery from heavy rains, and many fields were still wet with some ponding."

In North Dakota, crop reporters said, "Additional precipitation and excess soil moisture continued to hinder seeding across the state. . . . Producers in many areas faced muddy, inaccessible fields. Standing water was reported in some fields around the state. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent short, 41 adequate, and 58 surplus while subsoil moisture supplies were rated 43 percent adequate and 57 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 3.4 days suitable for fieldwork."