Rain Delays Minnesota Farmers Finishing Planting
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Widespread rain in the past week has delayed Minnesota farmers who are trying to finish planting.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the rain has left soil saturated and stressed crops. Wet fields also are hampering crop spraying and the first cutting of hay.
The weekly crop report says only 1.1 days were suitable for fieldwork across Minnesota.
Soil moisture took a big jump from the previous week. Topsoil moistures are now rated 58 percent surplus while subsoil moistures are 53 percent surplus.
Soybean planting is 95 percent complete, compared with a five-year average of 98 percent. Ninety-six percent of the corn crop has emerged, slightly behind the average 98 percent.
In southern Minnesota, flooding forced some farmers to move cattle herds to different pastures.
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