Production Problems

    Weather was reported as the worst production problem for 23% of Minnesota respondents on 19%
of their acres, 24% of North Dakota respondents on 26% of their acres, and by 24% of Northarvest
respondents on 24% of their acres. These values represent a major reduction in weather problems from
1997. Disease was the worst production problem for 28% of Minnesota respondents on 39% of their
acres, 10% of North Dakota respondents on 18% of their acres and 16% of Northarvest respondents
on 23% of their acres. Weeds were the worst production problem for 23% of Minnesota respondents
on 26% of their acres, 25% of North Dakota respondents on 22% of their acres and 24% of Northarvest
respondents on 23% of their acres. Emergence and stand problems were cited by 9% of Minnesota
respondents on 6% of their acres, 9% of North Dakota respondents on 10% of their acres and 9% of
Northarvest respondents on 9% of their acres. Harvest was the worst production problem for 7% of
North Dakota respondents on 7% of their acres (Table 7). Disease was the worst production problem
for Minnesota respondents, followed by weeds and weather. In contrast, weather was the worst
production problem for North Dakota respondents, followed by weeds and disease.

Table 7: Worst production problem in 1998 for respondents in Minnesota and North Dakota