MN Corn, Soybean Harvests Outpace 2011

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota's corn and soybean harvests are advancing well ahead of last year's pace as well as the five-year averages.

In its weekly crop progress report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that 95% of Minnesota's soybean crop was harvested by Sunday, compared with 69% last year and a 55% average. The corn harvest was 78% complete, compared with 16% last year and an 11% average.

Minnesota's sugarbeet and sunflower harvests are also running ahead of their averages, while the dry bean and potato harvests are nearly complete.

While northwestern Minnesota saw its first significant snow of the season last week, most areas remain dry. Topsoil moisture supplies are little changed at 45% very short, 41% short and 14% adequate.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)