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Favorable conditions for planting in Minnesota

Minnesota farmers should be able to take advantage of good planting conditions this week.

University of Minnesota Extension professor Jeff Strock says the outlook is favorable.

“What a difference a couple of weeks make. A little bit of sunshine, a bit of wind, some nice drying conditions.”

He tells Brownfield the combination of snowmelt and spring rains has recharged the soil profile.

“And get us ready for hopefully a spectacular 2023 season.”

Strock says soil temperatures are fluctuating between the mid 40’s and mid 50’s with minimum air temps in the mid 40’s.

“So we are rapidly getting to that point where 50 degree average temperatures for corn germination, we’re almost right on top of that.”

Strock says the short-term forecast shows temperatures gradually climbing and he expects quite a bit of fieldwork across southern Minnesota in the coming days.