Farmers Waiting On The Rain

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This winter’s lack of snowfall and low moisture levels have some farmers worried for crop season.

It’s been drier than normal for this time of year but one farmer who says there’s nothing to worry about quiet yet.

Spring has arrived and temperatures are rising which means it’s time for farmers to start preparing their fields.

Farmer Joe Morken says, “On our corn and sugar beets, those are going to take fertilizer so we’d be lining up our fertilizer application then tillage.”

The Morken Farm is starting to see the dry effects. But according to Joe, it could be a whole lot worse.

Morken says, “If it was a super wet year and we had overland flooding going on, we’d probably have some washouts that we’d end up going out and fixing some of that stuff.”

In order for a seed to start sprouting, it needs to be between 37 and 39–degrees Fahrenheit, pending moisture levels.

Cass County Extension Agent John Kringler says, “We need adequate moisture in the soil to help plants grow of course.”

Even though it’s been a dry winter, lacking snowfall we are not yet in a drought.

Kringler adds, “I think it’s a little early to say that because normally in the spring we do get adequate rainfall so sometimes above rainfall.”

The U.S. Drought Monitor did deem the state “abnormally dry” but this classification is being taken lightly.

The farmer says, “It’s nothing a little rain can’t fix for the lack of snowfall.”

So we’ll just have to wait and see. Like the saying goes…”April showers bring May flowers.”

Farmers expect it to rain a tenth to a quarter inch this week to help improve the fields.