Snow, cold weather slows down corn, sunflower harvesting for producers across North Dakota

Farmers in North Dakota are continuing to harvest corn and sunflowers as weather permits.

The Agriculture Department says in its weekly crop report that the corn harvest was 85 percent complete, ahead of the 76 percent figure at this time a year ago. The sunflower harvest was 82 percent complete, well ahead of the 60 percent mark of last year.

Varying amounts of snowfall were reported over the week with temperatures averaging 15 to 25 degrees below normal. Some producers moved livestock to harvested corn fields when possible, while others were prompted to start supplemental feeding.

Pasture and range conditions were rated 11 percent excellent. 55 percent good, 25 percent fair, 8 percent poor and 1 percent very poor.