Warm, dry weather helps ND farmers make progress

US Dept. of Ag says warm, dry weather ahead of rainfall helps ND farmers make progress

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- Warm, dry weather across North Dakota helped farmers make significant progress on their fieldwork before rainfall late in the week halted activities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop report says rainfall amounts totaled 1 to 6 inches.

Spring wheat seeding was rated 50 percent complete. This is well behind last year at 98 percent and the average and the 67 percent average.

Calving was 96 percent complete, while lambing was 96 percent complete.

Cattle and calf conditions were rated 0 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 66 percent good and 10 percent excellent.

Sheep and lamb conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 63 percent good and 9 percent excellent.