Soil moisture recharges between frosts

Minnesota's farmers got little fieldwork accomplished this past week as winter continues to resist surrendering to spring.

But the weekly crops and weather report for Minnesota from the U.S. Department of Agriculture contains some good news for farmers. After several months of drought, the report says topsoil and subsoil moisture levels have started slowly recharging between frosts.

Topsoil moisture is rated 59 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture still has some catching up to do, and is rated 56 percent short or very short, and 44 percent adequate or surplus.

Once again, the report has pushed back the anticipated date for full-scale fieldwork to begin, this time to May 7. The five-year average is April 21, which fell on Sunday this week.