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Recent rainfall welcome in drought-stricken corners of Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota

Soil conditions are looking good along the borders of southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa, and southeast South Dakota.

Chris Hill, who farms near Brewster, Minnesota, says he’s past the halfway point putting on spring anhydrous.

“Field conditions are actually pretty nice. We did have a little spot of rain (that) I don’t think anyone would say no to. Between Easter and now, guys who got their small grains in are probably looking pretty good. They got a nice little rain on what they’ve got (planted).”

Despite the recent rains, the National Drought Monitor Map shows the corners connecting Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota in slight to moderate drought.

He tells Brownfield it’ll be at least a week before he starts planting corn.

“The soil is just a little bit too cool right now, and I’m just not willing to stake that much into getting the crop started.”

Hill has planted corn this early before, but he says those were springs when everything fell into place.