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Prolonged dryness “fairly disastrous” for small grains in western Minnesota

Small grains did not fare well in moisture-starved western Minnesota.

Anne Schwagerl farms in Big Stone County and says the area was in category two drought most of the growing season.

“We got hot and dry and stayed hot and dry starting in May, and we didn’t get really an appreciable rain on our small grain crop from when it got planted to when it headed out. Which was fairly disastrous.”

She tells Brownfield her oats averaged less than 60 bushels per acre.

“So not great for oats. They were nice and heavy (though), which was great. But I wish there were more of them out there.”

Schwagerl also grows corn and soybeans and says some August rains will help, but she’s not expecting top-end yields.