Farmers make big gains in soybean, beet harvests
Published 9:30 am Tuesday, October 6, 2015
ST. PAUL — Minnesota farmers were able to harvest more than one-third of their soybean and sugar beet crops during an ideal week for fieldwork.
According to the USDA’s weekly Minnesota crop report, there were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork for the week that ended Sunday. That’s the most days suitable for fieldwork this season.
The state’s soybean harvest jumped 35 percentage points to 69 percent complete — 10 days ahead of last year’s pace and five days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 82 percent good to excellent.
Minnesota’s sugar beet harvest also advanced 35 percentage points from last week, to 52 percent complete. That’s two days ahead of last year and one week ahead of average.
Lack of rain during the week pushed down soil moisture levels.