We're not in drought conditions yet for Minnesota farmers, but it is getting close. Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Peterson tells WCCO's Sheletta Brundidge that the conditions are not near as bad as a year ago.
“Although it is dry south of the Twin Cities down to the Iowa border, and getting what they call abnormally dry, there’s a ways to go yet,” says Peterson. “That area did get nice shot of rain last night.”
Nearly three inches of rain fell in parts of southern and southeastern Minnesota Thursday night. Peterson says in many cases, the cool and wet spring set farmers back a month getting their crops planted. He says some timely rainfall will help get the crops to catch up well before harvest time.
“There’s about 67,500 farms in Minnesota and this year in a lot of cases, the crop was about a month behind getting planted,” Peterson explains. “But our farmers really did a great job getting that crop in the field. You know, it’s coming along.”
While certainly Thursday’s rain helped, more is needed. There is a chance for some showers in far southern Minnesota Friday but the next chance of significant rainfall comes on Sunday, although those have a chance to come with some severe weather.
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