ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A break in the rains let Minnesota farmers spend more time in their fields last week and the soybean crop improved.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop report on Monday says there were 5.8 days suitable for field work last week, the second highest of the season. Topsoil moisture supplies rated surplus were 17 percent, down from 24 percent last week.

The report says 73 percent of the corn was in the milk stage, moving closer to the five-year average of 76 percent. Seventy-five percent of the corn crop was rated good to excellent, about the same as the week before.

For soybeans, 93 percent of the crop was blooming, up from 90 percent the same week last year. Seventy-three percent of the soybean crop was rated good to excellent, up slightly from the week before.

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