Despite only 3.5 days suitable for field work during the week ending Sunday, Minnesota farmers advanced small grain planting progress to more than 3.5 weeks ahead of last year’s pace, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Field activities for the week included planting, tilling, spreading manure, and applying fertilizer. Most farmers were waiting for warmer soil temperatures to begin corn planting.
Rainfall in the southeastern part of the state slightly improved topsoil moisture to 5 percent very short, 32 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 4 percent very short, 36 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.
Twenty percent of Minnesota’s spring wheat was planted, five days ahead of normal and the second highest in the last 10 years, trailing only 2012. Seventeen percent of oat acreage was planted, almost 4 weeks ahead of the previous year. Barley planting progress, at 10 percent complete, was one month ahead of last year and one day ahead of the five year average. Sugarbeet planting was 11 percent complete, 30 days ahead of last year.
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