ST. PAUL  — Minnesota’s corn harvest is now ahead of the five-year average for the first time this season.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said farmers were able to harvest 25 percent of their corn for grain in the week ending Sunday.

That pushed Minnesota’s corn harvest slightly ahead of normal.

Seventy-three percent of corn for grain has been harvested, compared with the normal 72 percent. Minnesota’s soybean harvest remains ahead of normal at 96 percent complete.

Minnesota’s sugar beet harvest jumped 15 percentage points last week to 99 percent lifted. The sunflower harvest also moved along rapidly to 65 percent complete, a jump of 28 percentage points.

Farmers had five days rated suitable for fieldwork last week.