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Rain Slows Fieldwork In Parts Of Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Rain and thunderstorms slowed fieldwork in some parts of Minnesota this past week.

In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says only 11 percent of the state is now short or very short on topsoil moisture, compared with 20 percent a week earlier. But 18 percent of the state now has a topsoil moisture surplus, compared with 3 percent the previous week.

Corn planting is 73 percent complete, compared with 20 percent at this point last year and 53 percent for the five-year average. Nineteen percent of soybeans were planted, compared with 4 percent last year and a 13 percent average. Sugarbeet planting is nearly complete at 98 percent compared with a 53 percent average.

Statewide, 3.4 days were suitable for fieldwork last week.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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