| ST. PAUL (AP) -- The soybean harvest is nearing completion
in Minnesota and the corn harvest has made good progress, according to the
Minnesota Agricultural Statistics Service.
Light spotty rains slowed the harvest slightly last week, but the fall
tillage continues to make steady progress, the statistics service said
Monday in its weekly report.
Statewide, topsoil moisture conditions as of Friday were 1 percent very
short, 12 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.
As of Sunday, the soybean harvest was 89 percent complete, compared
with 99 percent last year and 96 percent for the 5-year average. Average
soybean moisture content was 12 percent, compared with 10 percent last
year and 11 percent for the 5-year average.
The corn harvest was 33 percent complete, compared with 83 percent last
year and 62 percent for the 5-year average, the statistics service said.
There were reports that corn was drying down, but slowly.
Corn moisture content was 22 percent, compared with 16 percent last
year and 19 percent for the 5-year average. Above average moisture was
leading to reports of mold and smut. Corn condition was rated 38 percent
good to excellent -- unchanged from last week' s rating.
Meanwhile, the sugar beet harvest was virtually finished with 98
percent harvested compared with 97 percent last year and 92 percent for
the 5-year average. |