Soybeans Rapidly Mature in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Soybean maturity has rapidly advanced in Minnesota in the last week, but soybean maturity still lags behind the normal pace.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that 40 percent of Minnesota's soybean crop has reached maturity. That compares with a normal rate of 66 percent by this time of year. But it's a big advance from last week, when only 9 percent of soybeans were mature.

Ninety-three percent of the soybean crop was turning yellow or beyond, six days behind normal.

Soybean harvest has begun and is 9 percent complete.

Minnesota's corn crop also is behind in development. The USDA says 41 percent of Minnesota's corn was mature, compared with last year's 98 percent.

Corn and soybean crop conditions both declined slightly to 48 percent good or excellent.