Improving weather driving crop progress in Minnesota

Our reluctant spring of 2022 has caused delays in planting this year.

But drier weather in the past week has helped farmers get into the fields more often in the past week. And this week’s Minnesota crop report shows progress in planting.

Monday’s Minnesota crop report shows 60 percent of corn has now been planted in Minnesota. That’s a big increase from the 35 percent in the ground as of last week. Last year at this time, nearly 100 percent of all Minnesota corn was already in the ground. The 5-year average for this date is 86 percent.

Temperatures across Minnesota last week ran slightly cooler than average in most areas. But most of Minnesota picked up less than .50” of rain allowing fields to dry out some. Heavier rainfall favored southeast parts of Minnesota.

Here’s some more granular detail on crop progress from this week’s Minnesota Crop Report.

Moderate weather conditions allowed farmers 3.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 22, 2022, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

An excess of moisture in the ground continued to delay fieldwork in many locations. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 38 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 31 percent surplus.

Corn planting reached 60 percent complete, 20 days behind last year and 10 days behind the 5-year average. Corn emergence reached 24 percent. Soybean planting was 32 percent complete, 18 days behind last year, and 11 days behind the 5-year average. Soybean emergence reached 7 percent.

Forecast: Warmer days ahead

Warmer temperatures over the next week should help jump-start crops. Highs will reach the 70s to near 80 degrees by this weekend across southern Minnesota.