Minnesota farmers able to work in fields, thanks to lack of rain; crop development still lags

Minnesota farmers were able to get a lot of field work done last week, thanks to the lack of rain.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there were 6.2 days suitable for field work in Minnesota for the week ending Sunday. That marks the most days suitable for any week so far this season.

Dry conditions allowed farmers to make good progress on the second cutting of alfalfa hay. But overall crop development continues to lag behind normal.

The corn crop is 23 percent silking, far behind the five-year average of 43 percent. Sixty-four percent of corn was rated in good to excellent condition.

Forty-seven percent of the soybean crop was blooming, up 20 percentage points from last week but behind the average of 55 percent.