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Fears of early frost increasing

Many farmers in the Upper Midwest are becoming increasingly concerned about the possibility of an early frost.

Brownfield ag meteorologist Greg Soulje says temperatures in that region are expected to trend well below normal the second half of September, with the potential for a season-ending freeze somewhere between the 15^th and 20^th.

With crop development a week or so behind average, west-central Minnesota farmer Nathan Collins says that would be devastating.

“We do forage harvesting with a fair amount of farmers in the area, and one of our big concerns is an early frost because it affects the quality of the silage we harvest for the diaries we work for.  So much that it can have a major impact on not only the dairies, but every farmer that we harvest for.”

Christopher Ziehm farms in Michigan’s Thumb, where wet, cool conditions slowed planting this spring.

He tells Brownfield an early frost, at minimum, would affect replanted soybeans and dry beans.

“(Affect them) immensely, and then the rest of the crops.  I mean, if we can get some heat here in August we’ll be ok.  But if it stays cool, there could be an issue.  There really could.”

Soulje does predict a warmer-than normal first half of September for most of the Midwest, but says that won’t be the case in the far northern High Plains.

 

Nathan Collins audio:

Christopher Ziehm audio: