This week's rain and the likelihood of more in the coming days is music to the ears of Minnesota farmers.
For many farmers in Minnesota, and across the Upper Midwest, it's been a one, two, three punch.
Tariffs, diesel fuel now flirting with the possibility of $7 a gallon, and despite this week's helpful rainfall, persistent drought.
"Farmers are survivors and they're resilient, and, for a lot of farmers they'll figure out how to get through this," says Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. "But we really can't have too many more years of all of these pressures on farmers, especially our grain farmers right now."
That diesel fuel is an extra burden, with prices hitting record highs across the U.S. just as farmers are getting into the fields and shipping their crops.
"It just couldn't come at a worse time," Petersen explains. "I think for a lot of farmers this is right when we're going into harvest, and farmers that hadn't pre-bought fuel or need to add fuel? This is really, really a crunch on their bottom line."
There's been a major lack of rain this summer. And while what falls now might be welcome, it's too late in some cases.
"I think 86% of our pasture land in Minnesota is in a very poor to fair condition, and so that means farmers are going to have to feed hay sooner, and that that ultimately hurts their bottom line," he adds.
Petersen says Minnesota is fortunate to have strong, confidential financial and mental health resources for farmers dating back to the farm crisis in the 1980s.
A list of them can be found on the Ag Department's website here.
"We really can't have too many more years of all of these pressures," says Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen
"We really can't have too many more years of all of these pressures," says Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen
