May 04, 2011

US Minnesota crop planting improves at very slow rate

Sowing progress remains minimal in Minnesota as farmers battle a wet spring, with spring wheat planting barely inching forward to 3% by Sunday (May 1), USDA's weekly crop weather report showed Monday.

That compares with 96% last year at this time, and a five-year average of 41%.

Corn planting is finally under way at 1% complete, compared with 84% last year and a 46% average.

Other planting progress includes oats at 9%, barley at 3% and sugarbeets at 2% planted. These crops are all at least 35 points behind their averages.

A statewide average of 1.3 days was suitable for fieldwork last week. The anticipated start of full-scale fieldwork has been pushed back to May 6.