Minnesota farmers planting at rapid rate

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota farmers continue spring planting at a torrid pace, despite a temperature cool-down last week.

According to the USDA's Minnesota crop-weather report Tuesday, spring wheat planting is 56 percent complete, well ahead of the five-year average of 6 percent.

Oats planted were 77 percent complete. That compares with 3 percent last year and 14 percent average. Nineteen percent of the state's oats already have emerged.

Barley planting is 35 percent complete, with 8 percent of the state's barley emerged.

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Farmers already are 27 complete preparing land for corn, with 7 percent of corn planted. Sugar beet planting is 24 percent complete.

Temperatures last week fell well below freezing in several areas of the state for the first time since early March. Statewide, five days were suitable for fieldwork.

Crop seeding remains well ahead of the average pace in the Dakotas despite rainy weather over the past week.

The Agriculture Department says in its weekly crop and weather reports that more than one-fourth of the North Dakota spring wheat crop is in the ground, compared to just 2 percent on average. In South Dakota, 83 percent of the spring wheat crop is planted, compared to 13 percent on average.

The report says the recent rains also have improved the condition of the winter wheat crop in South Dakota.

Corn planting is getting under way in both states