Will this spring be wet enough for Rochester area farmers?
Apr. 6—Dear Answer Man: Until last weekend — March 28-30 — things have appeared pretty dry out there in the fields. And last year wasn't exactly damp until it rained nonstop in May and June, which is its own set of problems. All this got me wondering, are farmers looking at a drought this year? Have we had too many droughts in a row? What say you, oh wise one? — Staring at the Soil.
Dear Soiled,
Dry is in the eye of the beholder. Or the person who needs to drive a tractor across a field.
Are we in a drought? Well ... sort of. But the soil conditions at the moment aren't going to keep the Cornflakes off your breakfast table. In fact, said Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist with the University of Minnesota, a little drought this time of year can be beneficial.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the most recent map from March 25 shows Rochester is in a moderate drought. Coulter said that's probably still true with the recent rainfall and snow from the last weekend in March.
But that's no reason to panic.
"Drier springs can lead to higher yielding crops," Coulter said. "When it's drier, you get less nitrogen fertilizer loss, and there are fewer delays in planting."
Looking at the weather, December through February saw about a 1.85-inch shortfall of precipitation in the Rochester area. Then we made some of that back with a plus-0.77 inches of precipitation in March. Then April started out damp as well.
Still, if it's dry, farmers have options. Plant a little deeper to reach the moisture. Minimize the tilling of the soil to reduce moisture loss.
Not that moisture isn't an issue. But you also don't want too much rain, especially right after planting. Last year, Coulter said, Southeast Minnesota saw an overabundance of rain, which led to erosion, seedling loss and other issues with nutrients (potassium and phosphorus, particularly).
Coulter noted a couple of years ago there were soil conditions not unlike what we're seeing now, and the yields in the fall were great. But another year where the early to mid-spring soil moisture was like now, and it was a mess because rains promoted the growth of weeds, which were hard to control because muddy conditions prevented farmers from getting tractors out in the fields to spray for them.
The bigger issue, he said, is to get rain in mid-July through August.
A bigger concern is soil temperatures right now. Planting begins around the third week of April and should be completed — at least for corn — by May 4 to get the highest yields.
"Window can be shifted a little earlier when spring arrives earlier," Coulter said. "April 18 is the typical start, and you go as long as it takes. We definitely want to have our corn planted by May 10."
So, while worrying about our food-growing friends is nice, fear not. Thus far, we're in good shape for the coming growing season.
Don't let your questions wither on the vine. Send questions to Answer Man at answerman@postbulletin.com.
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