Minnesota Planting on Track

Minnesota farmers made steady planting progress last week, with 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork despite rain in the southern part of the state. Spring tillage, manure hauling, and planting were underway, and no livestock issues were reported. Corn planting reached 26 percent, on pace with last year and slightly ahead of average. Soybeans were 13 percent planted, matching typical progress. Sugarbeets led at 44 percent planted, followed by oats at 33 percent, potatoes at 17 percent, spring wheat at 14 percent, and barley at 9 percent. While topsoil moisture was mostly adequate, 35 percent of subsoil moisture remained short to very short.