By Scout Nelson
Minnesota farmers averaged 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 4, 2025, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Although many areas of the state received much-needed rainfall, the wet weather did lead to delays in some planting activities.
Despite the slower pace in some fields, corn planting in the state was 44 percent complete. This progress places farmers two days ahead of where they were in 2024 and one day ahead of the five-year average. Soybean planting was also moving quickly, reaching 22 percent planted — five days ahead of the previous year and one day ahead of the five-year average.
In addition to corn and soybeans, other crops are making steady progress. Barley planting stood at 22 percent, with 5 percent of the crop already emerged. Oats were 51 percent planted and 15 percent emerged, while spring wheat was 30 percent planted and 5 percent emerged.
Dry edible beans reached 10 percent planted. Potatoes were 23 percent planted, sugarbeets 77 percent, and sunflowers 4 percent planted. These figures show that despite some weather challenges, planting remains ahead of schedule across several key crops.
Soil moisture conditions improved significantly following the rainfall. Topsoil moisture was rated 75 percent adequate, with only 3 percent very short and 14 percent short. Similarly, subsoil moisture showed improvement, rated 69 percent adequate, with 3 percent very short and 23 percent short.
Pasture conditions remained steady, with 43 percent rated good, 43 percent fair, 7 percent excellent, and only a small percentage rated poor or very poor. No livestock issues were reported across the state.
Overall, Minnesota farmers are on track with planting and benefiting from improved soil moisture, laying a strong foundation for the 2025 growing season.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Wheat