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Soil moisture levels a concern in southwest Minnesota

Soil moisture levels are a concern in many parts of the Corn Belt, including southwest Minnesota.

Crop and livestock producer Mike Landuyt of Walnut Grove says his corn and soybeans performed better than expected given the dry growing season.

“But we went into this year with the gas tank empty. The last couple years we had at least some recharge and had some water back in, but we went into this year and all year our subsoil was dry. So it’s just amazing we got what we got.”

He tells Brownfield he’s hopeful 2024 will be better.

“I like to think I’m almost always optimistic because I think as producers we all have to be because if we didn’t put the seeds in the ground or breed the cows or have the animals if we weren’t optimistic for what they would do.”

Brownfield interviewed Landuyt Friday at the Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention in Alexandria, Minnesota.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor categorizes southwestern Minnesota as abnormally dry or in moderate drought.