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Winter-like conditions slow progress in Minnesota

Persistent cold, wintry conditions kept many Minnesota farmers out of the field last week.

The latest USDA crop progress report says oat planting is well behind a year ago and the five-year average at just 1 percent complete.

Southwest Minnesota corn and soybean farmer Mark Enninga tells Brownfield it will be at least two weeks before he can begin planting.

“I don’t have a lot more confidence in the weather forecast beyond that. I wouldn’t say we’re in an excess moisture situation, I would say we’re probably in an adequate moisture situation in southwest Minnesota in Nobles County.”

Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies are rated 89 percent adequate to surplus and subsoil moisture supplies are 77 percent adequate to surplus.