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Southeast Minnesota farmer hoping for some heat and sun

A southeast Minnesota farmer says corn he planted a month ago could really use some heat and sunshine.

Ryan Buck of Goodhue County tells Brownfield wet, cool weather most of May has slowed crop development.

“It’s maybe a little taller than the (corn) planted a week to ten days later.  I mean, its got a pretty yellowish and purple tint to it right now.  It just needs some heat and sun.”

He says saturated soils have also made weed control more difficult.

“We did put down some pre-emerge grass herbicide with some of our fertilizer as we spread it before planting.  But we were kind of hoping once we got everything planted we could go in with a pre-emerge.  We’ve got some fields that, once it dries out here, we’re going to have to get the sprayer rolling because (the weeds) are starting to get kind of dirty.”

Buck estimates his area has received 7 to 10 inches of rain the last two weeks, and says there are isolated washouts in some of his fields.