Minn. corn, soybean harvests outpace 2011

Minnesota's corn and soybean harvests are advancing well ahead of last year's pace as well as the five-year averages.

In its weekly crop progress report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that 95 percent of Minnesota's soybean crop was harvested by Sunday, compared with 69 percent last year and a 55 percent average. The corn harvest was 78 percent complete, compared with 16 percent last year and an 11 percent average.

Minnesota's sugarbeet and sunflower harvests are also running ahead of their averages, while the dry bean and potato harvests are nearly complete.

While northwestern Minnesota saw its first significant snow of the season last week, most areas remain dry. Topsoil moisture supplies are little changed at 45 percent very short, 41 percent short and 14 percent adequate.

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