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Early weather issues give way to promising Minnesota crop outlook

A farm business management instructor says crops in south-central Minnesota have bounced back from some early season struggles.

Kristina McVicker with South Central College in Mankato tells Brownfield soil crusting was an issue after heavy rains in late April.

“But there wasn’t a whole lot widespread with that. There was also some no-till soybean fields that struggled a little because it seemed like we had a lot of trash out there, a lot of heavy residue. With the dry fall, relatively dry winter, and spring, it really kind of slowed that down.”

She says corn and soybean development are ahead of normal.

“We used to say ‘corn to be knee-high by the 4th (of July), right? And we had a couple fields poking tassels through the canopy around July 4th, so it’s just looking like we’re setting up really well for a really good crop.”

McVicker made these comments during Brownfield affiliate KNUJ’s Farm Forum earlier this month.

USDA’s latest weekly crop update shows nearly 60 percent of Minnesota’s corn crop silking, well ahead of the five-year average of 44 percent.  Eighty percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition.

For soybeans, 76 percent is blooming compared to 64 percent normally, and 80 percent is called good to excellent.