What’s Happening With Minnesota Crops?

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, July 7. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of Minnesota’s most important crops as July starts out.

Weather

“We had some really warm weather again, and again we had ample rain across much of the state,” said Tim Dahl, agronomic service representative for Syngenta Crop Protection.

Jared Goplen, agronomy manager for Wyffels Hybrids, admitted there have been some pockets of wind, hail and heavy rainfall, but nothing has amounted to substantial damage.

In Monday’s Crop Progress report, USDA said farmers had 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork the week that ended July 6, compared to 2.9 days this time last year.

USDA rated Minnesota topsoil moisture 1% very short, 6% short, 70% adequate, and 23% surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions in the state were rated 1% very short, 8% short, 74% adequate, and 17% surplus.

Corn

Goplen says, “With good soil moisture and the warm, sunny weather the corn has been growing quickly and looks really good in general across my geography.

“Most fields have really good color now and look great,” he adds. “There have been some areas with too much rainfall, which has caused wetter soils to look tough or become drowned out altogether.”

Acreage Estimates

According to the June 30 Acreage report, Minnesota farmers planted 8.5 million acres of corn in 2025. This is up about 300,000 acres from the previous year, said USDA.

Pest and Disease Pressure

A map published by the Crop Protection Network shows there are no positive tar spot cases, though the disease has been found in previous years. 

The primary issue so far this year has been weed control. Goplen said weed escapes have been a challenge in corn, namely waterhemp that has evaded standard herbicide programs. 

“In corn, this has caused some fields to get resprayed later than normal with dicamba-based products that have then caused some damage through greensnap,” Goplen added. “There have been a lot of conversations around tweaking weed management plans for next year.

Dahl added that yield protection is a common concern this time of year, especially in a year like this with a lot of yield potential. 

“Fungicide applications should be top of mind for growers. With corn, tar spot, northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot and rust are typically what growers see affecting corn here is Minnesota,” Dahl says. 

Silking Progress

The latest Crop Progress report said 6% of Minnesota’s corn crop has reached the silk growth stage. That is on par with the five-year average. Last year at this time 4% of the state’s corn had reached the silk growth stage.

Dahl said, “If tassels aren’t out by the time this is read, they will be soon.” 

Corn Condition

Goplen was enthusiastic about how well the corn is growing. 

USDA rated Minnesota corn 1% very poor, 5% poor, 20% fair, 55% good, and 19% excellent for the week that ended July 6.

That is similar to the national average rating of 1% very poor, 4% poor, 22% fair, 58% good, and 15% excellent.

Soybeans

Acreage Estimates

The Acreage report published June 30 said Minnesota planted 7 million acres of soybeans this year. That is down 400,000 acres from 2024.

Emergence Progress

USDA reported 100% of Minnesota soybeans have emerged, which is tracking with the 100% five-year average.

Blooming Progress

The latest Crop Progress report said 29% of Minnesota soybeans are blooming. That is behind the five-year average of 35%, and 30% this time last year. 

Soybeans Setting Pods

Although 8% of the nation’s soybeans have reached the pod growth stage, Minnesota’s slightly behind at 5%. 

Goplen noted, “Soybeans are starting to bush out and close in rows, and are starting to look pretty good in general. They have been flowering for the past week or two now. In some areas with too much moisture the fields are starting to go backwards, with some pockets dying from either too much water or disease setting in.”

Pest and Disease Pressure

“Weed control was a bit of an issue, so some fields got hit pretty hard with herbicides. Those fields looked a bit rough for a few days, but are looking better,” Dahl said. “The one exception is there are some soybean diseases starting to reduce stands in wet areas.”

Soybean Condition

USDA rated Minnesota soybeans 1% very poor, 5% poor, 21% fair, 59% good, and 14% excellent for the week that ended July 6.

This is slightly better than the national average rating of 2% very poor, 5% poor, 27% fair, 55% good, and 11% excellent over the same time period.

Spring Wheat 

Acreage Estimates

USDA’s acreage report said Minnesota farmers planted 1.21 million acres of spring wheat in 2025. That is down 10,000 acres from last year.

Spring Wheat Headed

USDA noted 59% of spring wheat has headed in Minnesota. This is far behind the five-year average of 71%. Last year at this time 74% of Nebraska sorghum had headed.

Spring Wheat Condition

USDA rated Minnesota spring wheat 2% very poor, 3% poor, 15% fair, 74% good, and 6% excellent. 

That is significantly better than the national average rating of 1% very poor, 13% poor, 33% fair, 48% good, and 5% excellent.

A July 7 Minnesota Cop News “Small Grains Disease and Pest Update” article reported low levels of tan spot, wheat stem maggot, cereal aphids and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus. Scouts also reported some incidences of Bacterial Leaf Streak for the first time this year. 

Barley

Acreage Estimates

The June 30 Acreage report said Minnesota farmers are expected to harvest 40,000 acres of barley this year, as 50,000 acres were planted. That is from 25,000 acres in 2024.

Barley Headed

Half of Minnesota’s barley crop has headed so far this year. That is significantly behind the five-year average of 71%. Last year at this time, 68% of the state’s crop had headed.

A July 7 Minnesota Cop News “Small Grains Disease and Pest Update” article recommended using a fungicide on fully headed barley for suppression of fusarium head blight (FHB). 

Barley Condition

USDA rated Minnesota’s barley 1% poor, 10% fair, 85% good, and 4% excellent the week that ended July 6. There was no very poor barley. 

This is significantly better than the national average rating of 1% very poor, 11% poor, 45% fair, 41% good, and 2% excellent.

Oats

Acreage Estimates

USDA’s June 30 Acreage report said Minnesota farmers planted 215,000 acres of oats this year. That is up 10,000 acres from 2024.

USDA estimated 140,000 acres of oats will be harvested this year, the same as 2024.

Oats Headed

The Crop Progress report indicated 60% of Minnesota oats have headed. That is behind the five-year average of 77%. Last year at this time 75% of Minnesota oats were headed.

Oat Condition

USDA rated oat condition in Minnesota 1% very poor, 2% poor, 11% fair, 76% good, and 10% excellent.

This is better than the national average for the same time period. The latest Crop Progress report said the national oat crop rated 6% very poor, 9% poor, 24% fair, 54% good, and 7% excellent.

Pasture and Range

USDA rated pasture and range conditions in the state 1% very poor, 6% poor, 26% fair, 54% good, and 13% excellent.