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Minnesota corn planting improves 15% in last week, but still 44% behind normal

Corn planting in Minnesota improved from six to 21 percent complete this past week.

But the USDA says this year’s pace still lags well behind the five-year average of 65 percent.

West-central Minnesota farmer Zach Johnson says his first 500 acres are in.

“Some of it we pushed in a little bit early. The soil was cold, and we had cold rains coming. But we made the choice to throw that seed in early and get some at least in the soil. We’ve got quite a bit to go yet.”

Johnson and his dad farm about 2,700 acres near Lowry.

The latest USDA crop progress report also lists soybean planting for the first time this year, with three percent of the intended acres in the ground.  That’s two weeks behind normal.

Thirty-five percent of spring wheat has been planted, four days behind last year and 12 days off the typical pace.

For other small grains, oats are 44 percent planted and barley reached 30 percent.

Sugarbeet farmers made tremendous progress, advancing from 13 to 54 percent the last seven days.

In addition to planting, Minnesota farmers continue to till ground, haul manure and spread fertilizer.