North Dakota's durum wheat plantings advances six percentage points week-over-week to 41% completed, six weeks ahead of last year, USDA says; barley plantings 55% completed

Andrew Rogers

BISMARCK, North Dakota , May 1, 2012 (Associated Press) – The plantings of North Dakota's barley, durum, spring wheat and oats crops continued to progress well ahead of last year's pace.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in its weekly crop, livestock and weather report says that barley is 55 percent planted. And the durum crop advanced 6 percentage points to 41 percent planted, about six weeks ahead of last year.

Spring wheat and oats were 66 and 56 percent planted, respectively.

Farmers have also gotten a jump on the planting of dry edible peas, flaxseed and sugar beets.

The USDA says that vast areas of North Dakota are in good condition for fieldwork, though some reports indicated work was slowed by precipitation in localized portions.

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