Excellent weather conditions continued Minnesota’s rapid crop planting progress according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
There were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the week ending May 3, 2020, the most days during this week since 2015’s 6.1 days.
Other field activities for the week were fertilizer application, tilling and crop planting.
Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 11 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus.
Thirty-six percent of the state’s corn acreage was planted during the week leading to a total of 76 percent of the crop in the ground.
This is one month ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of the 5-year average.
Three percent of the corn acreage has emerged.
Thirty-five percent of the soybean acreage has been planted, the most planted by this date since estimates began in 1963, and slightly above 2015’s 32 percent.
Spring Wheat planting was 21 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year but two weeks behind average.
Four percent of the spring wheat has emerged.
Sixty-two percent of the oat crop planting progress was complete, 5 days ahead of average.
Thirty-five percent of the oat crop has emerged. Barley was 24 percent planted with 10 percent emerged.
Potato planting progress moved ahead of the average pace by 1 day to 44 percent complete.
Sugarbeets were 38 percent planted, 1 week ahead of last year but remaining behind the average pace by 9 days.
Dry beans were 6 percent planted.
There were reports of slow pasture growth in northwest Minnesota while pastures turned green elsewhere in the state.
Pasture conditions were rated 1 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 57 percent good and 10 percent excellent.
