MN sugarbeet harvest advances as corn nears finale

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota's sugarbeet harvest is progressing quickly while the state's corn harvest is nearly complete.

Monday's weekly crop progress report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the sugarbeet harvest advanced 33 points over the past week to 74 percent complete as of Sunday, well ahead of the 43 percent at this point last year and the five-year average of 62 percent.

Minnesota's corn is 90 percent harvested, compared with 40 percent last year and a 27 percent average.

Statewide, 6.0 days were rated suitable for fieldwork last week. Precipitation ranged from none in central areas to nearly 1.5 inches in Preston in southeastern Minnesota.

Soils across most of Minnesota need more rain to recharge. Topsoil moisture supplies are rated 50 percent very short, 36 percent short and 14 percent adequate.