Minnesota farmers get good week for fieldwork

Published 10:48 am Tuesday, July 8, 2014

ST. PAUL — Minnesota farmers are coming off their best week for fieldwork in nearly a month.

Drier conditions gave farmers 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork last week. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop progress and condition report for Minnesota says the weather allowed many farmers to catch up on herbicide and fertilizer spraying, and to make progress on the first cutting of alfalfa hay. Some farmers were able to replant soybeans and corn in drowned out areas.

Nearly all of Minnesota’s corn crop has emerged, with 64 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition. The state’s soybean crop is rated 61 percent in good to excellent condition.

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Topsoil moisture is rated 70 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus, while subsoil moisture is 67 percent adequate and 32 percent surplus.