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Drought Conditions Continue to Improve

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Last weekend’s heavy rains across North Dakota and Minnesota were enough to improve dry conditions, but more rains will be needed to break the longer-term drought. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows Golden Valley, North Dakota in exceptional drought, with the rest of the sate ranging from abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions. Minnesota also had a reduction in drought, with the severe conditions in the western part of the state now at moderate to severe drought.

Dry Bean Scene

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Johnstown Bean Company general manager Dylan Karley joins this week’s Dry Bean Scene on the Red River Farm Network. While pinto and black bean yields have been coming in below normal, a bright spot have been favorable harvest conditions. This radio update is made possible, in part, by the Northarvest Bean Growers Association.

Weekly Dry Bean Market Review

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USDA Market News reports trading of dry beans remains mostly light, though higher than recent reports, with good demand compared to last week.
 
For pintos, the grower price in Minnesota and North Dakota is $48-to-$50 per hundredweight. That’s steady to $2 higher. Black beans are steady to $1 higher at $48-to-$49. Navies are unchanged at $42 per hundredweight. Dark red and light red kidney bean prices remain steady at $44-to-$49 per hundredweight.
 
New crop prices for all pulses remain steady to firm. View the September 28 report.

Crop Progress Report – Sept. 27, 2021

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According to USDA’s Crop Progress Report, dry edible bean harvest in North Dakota was 73%. That’s near 71% last year and ahead of 63% average.
 
Topsoil moisture supplies in North Dakota were 32% very short, 39% short, 28% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 41% very short, 35% short, 23% adequate, and 1% surplus.
 
In Minnesota, dry beans harvested was 72%. That’s ahead of 67% last year and 69% average.
 
Topsoil moisture supplies in Minnesota were 9% very short, 24% short, 65% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 17% very short, 37% short, 45% adequate and 1% surplus.
 
Dry beans were 96% harvested in Montana (including Chickpeas), 81% in Idaho, 95% in Washington, 74% in Colorado, 63% in Nebraska, 74% in Wyoming and 64% in Michigan. Get the latest Crop Progress numbers.

Gov. Walz Announces $10 Million in Drought Relief

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Today, Governor Tim Walz announced a $10 million drought relief package to support Minnesota farmers and livestock producers impacted by severe drought conditions during the 2021 growing season.

“Historic drought conditions have created extreme stress and financial hardship for our farmers and livestock producers during an already difficult time for the agricultural industry,” said Governor Walz. “As governor, and as someone who grew up on a family farm, I stand with our farmers. This funding will provide much-needed relief to Minnesota’s agricultural community and help ensure our farmers can keep feeding Minnesota and the world.”

The Governor’s proposal includes $5 million in rapid response grants to provide drought relief for livestock producers and specialty crop producers. Examples of eligible costs include water handling equipment such as water tanks, pipeline, and water wagons, water hauling, wells, and irrigation equipment.

The funding proposal also includes $5 million for the Rural Finance Authority’s Disaster Recovery Loan Program. The Rural Finance Authority’s Disaster Recovery Loan Program makes zero-interest loans available immediately for Minnesota farmers whose operations are suffering from lack of rain. The Disaster Recovery Loan Program can be used to help cover lost revenue or expenses not covered by insurance.

More details on the drought relief package will be announced soon.

This summer, Governor Walz met with agricultural leaders across the state to hear how the drought has impacted them. Governor Walz also met with President Joe Biden and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to ask that all levels of government work together to address the impacts of this drought on Minnesota’s farmers.

Crop Progress Report – Sept. 20, 2021

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According to USDA’s Crop Progress Report, dry edible bean condition in North Dakota rated 15% very poor, 30% poor, 39% fair, 16% good, and 0% excellent. Dropping leaves was 95%, near 96% last year, and equal to average. Harvested was 57%, ahead of 51% last year and 49% average. Topsoil moisture supplies in North Dakota were 0% very short, 34% short, 34% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 43% very short, 33% short, 23% adequate, and 1% surplus. In Minnesota, dry beans rated 19% very poor, 24% poor, 46% fair, 19% good, and 2% excellent. Dropping leaves was 95%, near both 92% last year and average. Harvested was 52%, ahead of 42% last year and 48% average. Topsoil moisture supplies in Minnesota were rated 11% very short, 24% short, 61% adequate and 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 19% very short, 37% short, 43% adequate and 1% surplus. Dry beans were 90% harvested in Montana (including Chickpeas), 73% in Idaho, 91% in Washington, 63% in Colorado, 49% in Nebraska, 30% in Wyoming and 49% in Michigan. Get the latest Crop Progress numbers.

Early Dry Bean Harvest is a Mixed Bag

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The edible bean market is poised for below average production, judging by the prices, which still are strong as farmers begin their harvest, said Tim Courneya, Northarvest Bean Growers executive vice president.
 
“They aren’t backing off,” he said. “We planted enough beans to be a little more bearish but the markets are bulled up.”
 
A few elevator Courneya called in early September were offering prices for navy beans that were in the high $30s per hundredweight and one had a price of $41 per hundredweight.
 

Crop Progress Report – Sept. 13, 2021

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According to USDA’s Crop Progress Report, dry edible bean condition in North Dakota rated 16% very poor, 30% poor, 37% fair, 16% good, and 1% excellent. Dropping leaves was 93%, ahead of 88% last year, and near 89% average. Harvested was 39%, ahead of 26% last year and 32% average.
 
Topsoil moisture supplies in North Dakota were 28% very short, 36% short, 34% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 42% very short, 32% short, 25% adequate, and 1% surplus.
 
In Minnesota, dry beans rated 12% very poor, 24% poor, 45% fair, 17% good, and 2% excellent. Dropping leaves was 91%, ahead of 82% last year and 84% average. Harvested was 35%, ahead of 19% last year and 26% average.
 
Topsoil moisture supplies in Minnesota were rated 15% very short, 28% short, 55% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 22% very short, 40% short, 37% adequate and 1% surplus.
 
Dry beans were 85% harvested in Montana (including chickpeas), 60% harvested in Idaho, 81% in Washington, 35% in Colorado, 34% in Nebraska, 22% in Wyoming and 6% in Michigan. Get the latest Crop Progress numbers.

Minnesota Drought Conditions Continue to Worsen

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In the last week, northwest Minnesota went fromextreme to exceptional drought, stretching across nine counties. The exceptional drought starts in Polk and Norman counties and goes through Lake of Woods county. Severe and extreme drought covers the rest of northwest Minnesota.
 
This is the driest northwest Minnesota’s been since the 1980s. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay says 1988 was dry, but 1980 was worse.
 
“In 1980, conditions in northwest Minnesota were drier by another 1.5 inches compared to 1988,” explains Boulay. “This year, rainfall is seven inches short of normal as a whole. The big difference between 1988 and now is 1988 was a more universal drought. This drought is more hit-or-miss.”

Dry Bean Scene

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Crops in the Brownton, Minnesota area weren’t looking too bad until this last week. That’s according to farmer Jeff Kosek, who serves on the Northarvest Bean Growers Association board of directors. The area hasn’t received any measurable rain since around July 7. Hear more in the Dry Bean Scene made possible, in part, by Northarvest.