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Crop conditions vary as harvest nears in Minnesota

Crop conditions vary as harvest nears in Minnesota.

Speaking to Brownfield from the Minnesota State Fair Monday, Minnesota Farm Bureau president Dan Glessing said attendees are asking about the impact of the drought.

“Southeast (part of the state) is definitely (dry). Had a farmer in here this morning saying it was their turn because they’ve had some good crops the last couple years when the rest of the state hadn’t, but he said they’re burning up and could be combining corn in about three weeks. It’s highly variable though (across the state).”

Glessing farms near Waverly, about an hour west of the Twin Cities, and says his crops had enough moisture to survive the recent excessive heat.

“Other parts of the state weren’t so lucky. The beans were filling a little too fast and so time will tell, it’s hard to give you an answer until we’re out there with the combine. But I think in our area it will be okay.”

Monday’s USDA crop progress report for Minnesota shows 44 percent of corn and 49 percent of soybeans in good to excellent condition.