Parts of Minnesota gain ground on planting

Planting progress picked up in parts of Minnesota last week.

USDA’s latest crop progress report says corn planting reached 35 percent, compared to 94 percent a year ago and the five-year average of 72 percent.

Soybean planting is 11 percent done, well behind last year’s pace of 85 percent and the usual pace of nearly 50 percent by mid-May.

For small grains, wheat is five percent planted, barley is at 16 percent, and oat planting is about halfway done.

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