Minn. Small-Grain Farmers Make Harvest Progress

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Limited rain helped Minnesota's small-grain producers make progress on harvesting while development of the corn crop is catching up to the averages.

In its weekly crop weather report Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Minnesota's spring wheat and barley producers harvested 54 percent of the state's crop as Sunday, up 33 point gain from a week earlier. Oats were 77 percent harvested, a 26-point increase.

While field corn development is bouncing back from a cold, wet spring, condition ratings declined slightly to 53 percent good and 17 percent excellent, compared with 58 percent good and 17 percent excellent a week earlier.

Topsoil moisture supplies fell to 11 percent surplus, the lowest rating of the season, and the report says southern Minnesota has had a prolonged lack of rain.

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