ST. PAUL — Widespread rains have slowed Minnesota’s small grain harvest but also have improved row crop and pasture conditions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said 4.5 days were suitable for fieldwork in Minnesota during the week that ended Sunday.

Minnesota’s corn crop made a big advance last week. Seventy-eight percent of the corn crop was at or beyond the dough stage, a jump of 15 percentage points from the previous week. Seventy-one percent of the corn crop is rated in good to excellent condition.

Ninety-two percent of soybean acres were setting pods, up 7 points from the previous week. Soybean conditions improved slightly and now are at 66 percent good to excellent.

The spring wheat harvest is nearly three weeks behind the five-year average, at 22 percent complete.