Soaking Rains Hamper Final Fieldwork at Minnesota Farms

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Soaking rains followed by snow prevented Minnesota farmers from getting much final fieldwork done last week.

In its final crop progress and condition report of the year for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that only 2.2. days were suitable for fieldwork last week. When they were able, farmers completed their fall tillage, applied fertilizers and baled corn stalks during the week. Falling temperatures have frozen the ground in some parts of northern Minnesota.

Thanks to the rain, topsoil moisture supplies are rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 79 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus heading into winter. Subsoil moisture supplies are 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.