Minnesota Crop Planting Progress Remains Minimal

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Planting progress remains minimal as Minnesota farmers struggle with a soggy spring.

In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that spring wheat planting inched forward to 3 percent by Sunday. That compares with 96 percent last year at this time, and a five-year average of 41 percent.

Corn planting is finally under way at 1 percent complete, compared with 84 percent last year and a 46 percent average.

Other planting progress includes oats at 9 percent, barley at 3 percent and sugarbeets at 2 percent planted. These crops are all at least 35 points behind their averages.

A statewide average of 1.3 days were suitable for fieldwork last week. The anticipated start of full-scale fieldwork has been pushed back to May 6.