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Drought stress evident as SW Minnesota farmer begins harvest

Drought stress is evident as an organic farmer in southwest Minnesota begins soybean harvest.

Carolyn Olson of Cottonwood says her area has been in moderate to severe drought all summer and crops reflect that.

“We don’t have an accurate (yield) number to give right now, but it is probably on par or maybe just a little under last year on this variety.”

She tells Brownfield harvest moisture is in the 10 to 12 percent range.

“Which for us is pretty ideal. But the next two fields that we tried were still way too wet (and) had some pretty green soybeans in them yet.”

Olson, the vice president of Minnesota Farm Bureau, says she’s going to wait a few days to give the soybeans more time to dry down.