Cold, wet weather bogs down MN field work

Another week of cold, wet weather has bogged down field work in parts of Minnesota.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crops and weather report for Minnesota that standing water and muddy fields hampered the remaining planting work last week, though crops planted earlier are emerging in better-drained fields.

Statewide, an average of 2.2 days were rated suitable for fieldwork last week, compared to 1.9 days a week earlier.

Corn planting was 87 percent complete, compared with a five-year average of 98 percent for this point. Corn emergence advanced to 65 percent, but remains well behind the average of 86 percent.

Soybeans were 55 percent planted, compared with an average of 88 percent. Soybeans were 18 percent emerged, which was 36 percentage points behind the average pace.