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An inconsistent crop in the northern U.S.

Farmers in portions of the Northern Plains say corn and soybean conditions are inconsistent following wet planting and growing seasons.

In southwest Minnesota, Lincoln County farmer Bob Worth says crop conditions have improved greatly in the last few weeks with corn advancing ahead of schedule, but soybeans are behind where they should be this time of the year.

“Our corn is turning to brown silk right away, so we know the pollination process has worked well. The soybeans aren’t extremely tall.”

In northeast South Dakota, Roberts County farmer Bob Metz says they’ve been getting 1-to-2-inch rains every couple of days following a wet planting season and crops need more heat and less rain.

“We have beans that were planted on April 25 and they’re not even knee high yet,” says Metz. “They’re behind and there are some beans a lot shorter than that. The early planted soybeans had quite a bit of drowned out.”

In southeast North Dakota, Richland County farmer Carson Klosterman says the corn’s not quite tasseling due to the cool, wet conditions, but the soybeans are coming along ok. Klosterman says there will be a crop in the Red River Valley, but it won’t be a bin buster.

“No one is looking for a home run, we’re just hoping the last thing that could hit us is an early frost,” says Klosterman. “We’ve had hail, wind, excess rain, tornadoes on the ground, but the only thing left on the Bingo card is an early frost. Let’s hope that doesn’t get a check mark.”

The farmers acknowledge there are weather-related crop issues beyond the Northern Plains this year and tell Brownfield they’re not sure the grain markets will factor in the crop losses.

Photo credit: Carson Klosterman, southeast North Dakota