US Agriculture Dept: Late December snow further hampers delayed North Dakota corn harvest

Snow further hampers North Dakota corn harvest

FARGO, N.D. — The U.S. Agriculture Department says a major snow storm in late December further hampered the late corn harvest in North Dakota.

Nearly 30 percent of the crop is still in the fields. Officials say many farmers will wait until spring to harvest the corn.

The average snow depth in North Dakota is 11.3 inches, compared with 17.1 inches last year at the same time. The department says snow cover protection for alfalfa and winter wheat is rated 98 percent adequate to excellent.