Minnesota corn and soybean harvests are expected to be better than in 2013, according to the latest monthly crop forecasts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Late spring weather made it difficult for some farmers to plant as early as they wanted, and heavy rains washed out crops in localized areas.

But overall corn production in the state is forecast to be 4 percent higher than 2013 at 1.36 billion bushels, and average yields will jump from 160 bushels per acre last year to 170 bushels per acre in 2014.

Soybean production is estimated at 312 million bushels, up 15 percent from last year with average yields of 42 bushels per acre.

Minnesota farmers are growing corn on 8 million acres this year and soybeans on 7.42 million acres, according to the report.

Sugarbeet production is expected to be 8 percent lower than 2013 at 10.1 million tons. Yield is expected to be 23.3 tons per acre this year, about 2.7 tons per acre less than in 2013.

Farmers are growing sugarbeets on 435,000 acres.

The forecasts are based on Sept. 1 conditions, and may change due to weather and other factors before the crop production estimates are updated next month.