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Weather the “X” factor as Upper Midwest crops near finish line

The lead agronomist for an Upper Midwest seed company suggests weather the next few weeks will determine a good crop from a great one.

Rick Swenson is with North Dakota-based Peterson Farms Seed.

“I think we’re all maintaining alright, and definite real potential out there, but we’re going to need some more rain to finish out here. And we’re also going to need the heat.”

He tells Brownfield the crop is behind after planting delays in the Dakotas and Minnesota.

“We’re going to need the month of September as well. August has kind of been about average, and if we can grab an above-average September we’re actually sitting pretty good.”

Swenson says the flipside would be an early frost, which would reduce yields.