Minnesota Farmers Already Sowing Some Oats, Spring Wheat

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota farmers have sown some oats and spring wheat, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture says cool temperatures and precipitation have limited any planting in earnest so far.

In its first weekly crop progress and condition report for Minnesota this year, the USDA said Monday that only 1.6 days were suitable for fieldwork in the week ending Sunday. It says field activities for the week included spreading manure, applying anhydrous ammonia fertilizer and tilling fields.

Going into the growing season, topsoil moisture supplies are rated 76 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.

Pasture conditions are rated 71 percent fair to good, and 25 percent poor. Most pastures are either still dormant or just starting to green up. There have been some reports of calves being sick due to wet conditions.