Minnesota 2015 Farm Crops Looking Good

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota farmers have generally welcomed the recent rain despite high winds and hail in some areas.

In its weekly crop progress and condition report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that topsoil moisture supplies are rated 87 percent adequate, 10 percent surplus, and only 3 percent short. Subsoil moisture is 89 percent adequate, 6 percent surplus and 5 percent short.

The report says 4.3 days were suitable last week for fieldwork, which included spraying, scouting for aphids and cutting hay.

Crop development remains well ahead of last year's pace and a bit ahead of the five-year averages for corn and soybeans. The condition of Minnesota's corn crop improved slightly to 86 percent good to excellent, while the state's soybean crop is 79 percent good to excellent.