Hot, Dry Weather Helps Minnesota Crops Develop

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Hot, dry weather has helped Minnesota crops develop and farmers catch up on fieldwork.

In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that 5.1 days were suitable for fieldwork last week, the second-highest number of the season.

Field reports indicate crops responded well to the sunshine and warm temperatures, although northern crops are showing signs of stress from surplus moisture.

Haying and spraying resumed in several areas after being delayed by wet conditions. Topsoil moisture is 2 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 28 percent surplus, a significant improvement from the previous week.

Corn height averaged 25 inches by Sunday, compared with 43 inches for the five-year average. Soybean height averaged 7 inches, compared to an 11-inch average. Crop conditions were almost unchanged.

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