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Minnesota corn, soybeans maturing 10 days ahead of normal

Weather across much of Minnesota has turned from hot and wet to warm and dry.

The consistent heat has pushed crop development, with corn and soybeans maturing about 10 days ahead of normal.

University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai tells Brownfield some crops have succumbed to too much rain.

“And it was these heavy rain impulse showers, thunderstorms, whatever you want to call them, that really impacted and caused a lot of variability.”

Corn and soybean condition ratings declined slightly again last week, with 74 percent of corn and 67 percent of soybeans rated good to excellent.

The recent dryness has allowed the harvest of small grains to accelerate.

Spring wheat harvest, at 76 percent complete, is almost two weeks ahead of average.  The oat and barley harvests are also progressing more than a week faster than normal.