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Mixed weather slows Minnesota farmers

A combination of rain, hail, sleet, and snow interrupted fall fieldwork across Minnesota last week.

USDA’s latest crop update says there were less than four days suitable to be in the field, but farmers were able to continue harvest, tillage, and fertilizer applications.

Soybean harvest is wrapping up around Minnesota with 94 percent of the crop out.

Southwest Minnesota farmer Chris Hill tells Brownfield bean yields averaged in the 50’s.

“We got just enough rain to get a crop (and) the rains in early August helped. But around state fair time here in Minnesota when we hit those 95-degree days, that really clipped the yields some.”

Corn harvest advanced last week to 75 percent complete, a day behind last year but five days ahead of the five-year average.

The sugarbeet harvest is done, potatoes are 96 percent harvested, and the sunflower harvest reached 74 percent.