Minnesota planting pace picks up, but still well behind normal

The planting pace picked up across Minnesota last week.

USDA’s latest crop report says with five days suitable for fieldwork, corn planting eclipsed 80 percent and soybean planting crossed the halfway point.

Both paces are well behind last year and nearly two weeks slower than average.

Spring wheat planting is at 53 percent, oats are 78 percent planted, and about 50 percent of the barley crop is in.

Sugarbeets are 65 percent planted, and the first cutting of alfalfa is underway with six percent complete.

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