USA: Warm and dry weather allows progress in Minnesota fields

A week of hot, dry weather in Minnesota has aided in the cutting of hay and harvesting of small grains, according to the USDA's latest crop report. The second cutting of alfalfa is at 72 percent, with 71 percent of all hay rated good to excellent. The spring wheat harvest is at 2 percent, with 83 percent of the crop rated good to excellent. Oats are 23 percent harvested, and barley is at 3 percent. Corn silking is at 63 percent, lagging behind last year and the five-year average, with 58 percent of the corn crop rated good to excellent. Soybeans blooming is at 73 percent, also behind last year and the five-year average, but the crop condition has improved to 60 percent good to excellent. The sugarbeet condition remains at 80 percent good to excellent, and 75 percent of the sunflower crop is in good to excellent condition.