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Dryness a concern for farmers in western Minnesota

A lack of subsoil moisture is a concern for farmers in western Minnesota.

DEKALB Asgrow agronomist Steven Regan says drought conditions persisted into the fall.

“And we did not receive much for fall precipitation, so a lot of our tile lines, I’d say most of our tile lines, were not running, and our drainage ditches were dry. So we did go into the winter dry.”

He tells Brownfield with less moisture in the soil profile, the frost is not very hard.

“More of that honeycomb-type frost. And we did receive quite a bit of snow in Minnesota in December and early January, so we have pretty good insulation on top of fields and minimal frost in the ground.”

Regan suggests conditions the next 60 days will be key and he’s hoping for a slow thaw that allows soils to get recharged.