from Internet sources

Observers around the state report that a small percentage of corn has reached full maturity in Minnesota, well ahead of average dates, due to “nearly ideal growing conditions” (true across the entire Corn Belt) throughout the season, including warmer temperatures and timely rain.

“This is shaping up to be one of the best corn crops ever produced in the United States,” said DeVonna Zeug, a farmer in Walnut Grove, Minnesota and president of Minnesota Corn Growers Association. “Each year we are producing more food and the same or fewer acres of land, thanks to the great contributions of crop science, in partnership with the continuing hard work of the American farmer. Anyone who says that there won’t be enough food or that food and farm-based energy are in competition just doesn’t have the facts. This will be among the biggest corn crops in US history and every segment of the market—animal feed, human food and energy will have a more than ample supply.”

Observers with the USDA find that 91 percent of the state’s corn crop can be rated good or excellent. This compares to 70 percent of the crop across the 18 major corn-producing states.
 
“Corn progress continued ahead of average. “ according to the latest crop weather report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service –Minnesota office. They go on to report, “Ninety-five percent of corn was in the dough stage, compared to 48 percent last year and 79 percent average.  Corn in the dent stage jumped 33 points this week to 68 percent, compared to 6 percent last year and 48 percent average.  Two percent of corn reached the mature stage, compared to 0 percent last year and 3 percent average.

At the Southern Research and Outreach Center of University of Minnesota, in Waseca, they report some 94-day maturity corn has reached full maturity, but before operators begin dreaming of an earlier harvest, the grain remains fairly high moisture, at 30 percent.