Crops across southwest Minnesota are slightly ahead of schedule due to the abundance of rain in the first half of May and the sunny days in the second half of the month.

 

In its weekly crop weather report for Minnesota, the USDA reported that 90% or more of small grains and row crops were in good to excellent condition as of Sunday (May 30).

 

"You like to have an even rain pattern," Farm Management analyst and former Extension educator Kent Thiesse said. "But for the most part the crops are doing quite well."

 

The report by the Department of Agriculture reports that corn crop was 94% emerged and 60% of the soy crop had begun to poke through the soil. Warm weather and adequate rain made for ideal growing conditions in the first part of spring.

 

Thiesse said the lack of rain in recent weeks could have a negative effect on crops if the region does not get precipitation soon. "If you go more than two weeks without rain it can be a concern with topsoil," he said, adding that soy planted late in the season has not been performing well in the high heat. "The biggest issue with the beans is that with the high heat they have dried out."

 

Topsoil has started to dry out in parts of the region and rain is needed to help crops planted later in the season grow. Nonetheless, the dry topsoil can actually be beneficial to crops planted earlier in the season, Thiesse added.

 

"Once they are emerged, if it's dry the roots go deeper into the soil," he said. "It can be beneficial to have a developed root system later in the season."