ST. PAUL (AP) - The mostly dry weather of the past week has allowed Minnesota farmers to come close to finally finishing planting several key crops.

In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that six days were rated suitable for fieldwork last week, the highest number so far this year.

Soybean planting jumped 19 percentage points to 94 percent complete, while corn planting advanced four points to 99 percent complete.

The planting of barley, green peas and potatoes are virtually complete, while dry beans, sweet corn and sunflowers made big gains, although planting of those crops remains behind last year's pace.

Seventy-seven percent of the state's corn crop and 76 percent of the soybean crop are in good to excellent condition.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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