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Minnesota farmer capitalizes on mild winter

An unusually warm winter has allowed a southeast Minnesota farmer to work out some kinks before spring fieldwork begins.

Brennen Toquam of Blooming Prairie says he planted some soybeans in February.

“Just to make sure the planter worked and stuff, (the soybeans) didn’t grow obviously. But it was nice, and we found some things wrong with the planter and were able to get parts, which was nice to do in February and March and not in April or May.”

He tells Brownfield they also addressed some hydraulic issues on tillage equipment.

“So we were able to just go out and just actually unfold it in the field, put it in the ground for a few feet. It’s not something that you would keep going or anything like that, but once again it was just nice to test the equipment out before the madness of spring begins.”

Toquam says spring fieldwork on his farm will begin this weekend with burndown herbicide applications.