![Wheat Harvest Underway](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2022/08/attachment-cover-21.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Wheat Harvest Underway
CROOKSTON -- It’s late, but Minnesota farmers are making progress in this year’s spring wheat harvest.
The latest crop progress report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds that 44% of the state’s spring wheat has been harvested, far behind the five-year average of 78%.
![96.7 The River logo](https://townsquare.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/KZRVFM.png?w=100)
University of Minnesota Extension Agronomist Jochum Wiersma says, despite the late spring, the crop is exceeding expectations.
The reports that are coming in are a pleasant surprise. Initial reports on the earliest planted stuff show there's a lot of 80-bushel yields and in some cases even higher. The quality in general is really good. The same thing was also true for the spring wheat and winter wheat that was harvested in southern Minnesota. So, it's a nice crop.
Wiersma says a late spring usually brings an added risk of crop diseases, but the quality of this harvest has been good.
We are hearing some reports of a little bit higher incidence of ergot. It's a little harder to manage because the ergot bodies are pretty much the same size as the kernels and difficult to clean out. The best recommendation is to leave the edges of the fields standing. Because eventually, those ergot bodies will drop to the ground.
The crop progress report finds that 66% of the state’s soybean crop and 65% of the corn are in good to excellent condition.
10 Signs of a Long, Hard Winter on the Way
More From 96.7 The River
![Drought Pushes Up Minnesota Fall Harvest, Yields Are a Mixed Bag](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/10/Corn-Harvest.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Go Behind The Scenes At Five Major St. Cloud Landmarks [VIDEO]](http://townsquare.media/site/911/files/2023/10/attachment-Vals-Sign3.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Coffee And Soccer Join Forces At This Unique Minneapolis Shop](http://townsquare.media/site/911/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-57.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![9 Traits Minnesotans Seem To Have If They Grew Up Poor](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-towfiqu-barbhuiya-via-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Help Students “Clean-Up” This Saturday in St. Cloud](http://townsquare.media/site/911/files/2024/07/attachment-Crew-BBBS-Featured-Image-3.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Taste The Season: Local Grower’s Sweet Corn Is Ready For You!](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-Image-Credit-David-Trink-via-Unsplash-Canva.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![What the “Flock” Is Going on in Rice Minnesota?](http://townsquare.media/site/911/files/2024/07/attachment-Featured-Image.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Your Whole Family Will Love This Awesome Park – Less Than An Hour From St. Cloud!](http://townsquare.media/site/911/files/2024/07/attachment-attachment-attachment-IMG_5258.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Valleyfair Holding Event To Support Childhood Cancer](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/08/Valleyfair1.jpg?w=980&q=75)