Farmers progress on small-grain harvest

Published 9:24 am Tuesday, August 12, 2014

ST. PAUL — Dry weather over the past week has allowed Minnesota farmers to make steady progress on the small-grain harvest.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its weekly crop progress and condition report for the state Monday that 6.3 days were suitable for fieldwork last week. Despite the heavy rain earlier in the season, the report says most row crop farmers now would like to see some additional moisture.

Minnesota’s oat harvest is 54 percent complete, the only crop ahead of average, while 17 percent of the state’s barley crop and 6 percent of its spring wheat have been harvested.

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The state’s corn crop is rated 70 percent in good to excellent condition, while soybeans and sugarbeets are rated 65 percent good to excellent.