Despite Rain Break, Minn. Rapid Harvest Continues
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota farmers continue to make rapid progress on harvesting, despite a brief rainfall interruption.
The U.S. Agriculture Department's weekly crop weather report for Minnesota said Monday that last Wednesday's rain only amounted to 0.3 inches in the southwest to 0.8 inches in the north-central and northeast parts. But for many locations it was the greatest rainfall since Sept. 4.
Despite the rain, the ground remains hard and dry in areas. As of Sunday, topsoil moisture supplies are rated 17 percent very short, 39 percent short and 44 percent adequate.
Corn harvest is 48 percent completed, compared with 43 percent last year and a five-year average of 28 percent. The sugar beet harvest jumped 38 points from the previous week to 54 percent complete.
Soybean and potato harvests are virtually complete.
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