Corn, soybean planting well behind five-year average

Area farmers made good progress with planting early last week, where the soils weren’t too wet to work or plant, but still remain far behind where they should be by the third week in May.
Planting stopped as more rain fell on already saturated soils Saturday and Sunday. Benson officially had 1.82 inches of rain over the weekend bringing the month’s total to 4.35 – 1.20 inches above the average of 3.15 inches. More rain was forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.
April saw 3.77 inches of precipitation, 1.27 inches above the average of 2.5 inches.
Minnesota farmers took advantage of the 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 19, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Planting progress was made for all crops in Minnesota...
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