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Minnesota planting pace right on 2020’s heels

Corn planting across Minnesota is barely off last year’s pace and well ahead of normal.

The latest weekly crop report from USDA says as of Sunday, 85 percent of the state’s intended corn acres are planted.  That compares to 87 percent a year ago, and the five-year average of 53 percent.

Central Minnesota farmer Chad Willis tells Brownfield he finished planting over the weekend.

“Planting has gone really well. This spring has been pretty much wide-open. We could really use some moisture, but for the most part I would say the majority of people in our area are done.”

For soybeans, planting advanced to 65 percent, five days faster than last year and nearly two weeks faster than average.

Spring wheat is 97 percent planted, while oats and barley are at 89 percent.

Sugarbeet planting is essentially complete, and 74 percent of Minnesota’s potato crop is in.