Minnesota Seed Law must be followed on prevented planting acres
Minnesota farmers may be in the market for more cover crop seed than in previous years. Poor planting conditions this spring are forcing some farmers to make decisions on prevented planting. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) wants to remind farmers about the legal requirements for selling and buying seed in Minnesota, which does include cover crop seed.
More acres might be going into cover crops because of prevented planting conditions. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has some reminders when farmers are looking to buy cover crop seed. (Photo from AgNook.com)
MDA says it has seen several issues in past years that violate Minnesota’s Seed Law. Buying grain from an elevator for the purpose of sowing is not legal. It is also illegal to brown bag or sell grain out of a bin. Furthermore, all seed sold in the state must be labeled.
“Minnesota’s Seed Law restricts these activities for numerous reasons, ” said Denise Thiede, MDA’s Seed Unit Supervisor. “Farmers could be bringing in weeds through unlabeled and untested seed, or they may not be get the type or quality of seed they paid for.”
In addition, almost all seed varieties have some form of intellectual property protection that restricts the use and sale of the variety under the federal Plant Variety Protection Act. Violating this act can lead to significant fines for both the seller and the buyer.
If farmers are buying seed to sow on their land, the MDA offers the following advice:
Make sure the seed has a label.
Confirm the cover crop seed has been tested for noxious weed seeds, including Palmer amaranth.
Make sure that it is a legal sale by asking the seller if they have the legal authority to sell the product.
Ask about the variety of seed. A variety protected by the Plant Variety Protection Act must be sold by variety name and may be required to be sold as a class of certified seed.
Industrial hemp production is becoming legal in more and more states. However, farmers who’ve never grown the crop before have some things to look into before they take the plunge. (Photo by agriculture.com)
In the course of covering agriculture, I’ve written and recorded several stories about the possibility of industrial hemp farming. More and more states are making industrial hemp production legal within their borders. It’s good news for farmers because it puts another cash crop in their toolbox. But I was curious about the process of how to start growing the crop for the first time. It’s similar in some ways to “traditional” commodities but very different in others.
I caught up to Erica McBride Stark, Executive Director of the National Hemp Association, to talk about things farmers who’ve never grown industrial hemp before need to consider. The list is a long one. Considerations include the reason you’re growing the crop (who is the end user?), the types of soils you farm in, and what kind of equipment you have for both planting and harvest.
“I know there are a lot of farmers that want to try growing
hemp,” Stark said. “I am a little bit concerned, to be honest because there’s a
whole lot of people who want to jump in but don’t know what they’re doing. We’ll
have to see how it goes.”
As there are different types of standard commodities,
farmers will have to figure out what type of hemp they want to grow. For
example, the cultivation methods for CBD are quite different than what they
would be for hemp grown for fiber or grain. But that’s not all.
“The crop starts off indoors and farmers will need specific equipment
to transplant it into fields outdoors,” she said. “The type of soil you’re
farming in also makes a difference. Hemp likes a loose soil that’s well
drained. It doesn’t want to have wet feet. It also likes a neutral pH level.”
She said hemp grown for fiber and grain is planted a lot
like traditional crops. Growing hemp for CBD means the plants are spaced out
further and surrounded by plastic sheets.
I’m thrilled that farmers have another possibility for a cash crop. However, I’d encourage you to give a listen here if you’re thinking about trying industrial hemp production for the first time.
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade agreement presents trade opportunities that Ag leaders across the country say farmers need to break out of the economic doldrums across the sector.
Trade opportunities have been, and always will be, important to U.S. agriculture. However, the opportunities aren’t there because of ongoing trade disputes with partners like China. However, with the removal of Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, the opportunity for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement to get through Congress is closer than ever. The prospects, however, depend on who you ask and what their political affiliation is.
That aside, Minnesota Farm leaders gathered recently in Hawley to discuss the current state of the farm economy. They specifically emphasized the importance of trade opportunities across North America. Kaitlyn Blackwelder is the regional project manager for Minnesota Soybean.
Farm incomes fell eight percent last year due in large part to lost trade opportunities and a large supply of commodities driving down prices. And, that has the attention of ag lenders like Jennifer Sharpe, Market Vice President of AgCountry Farm Credit Services.
They and others are worried that unless the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement gets ratified soon, things will only worsen. Ag exports to Mexico and Canada generate more than $1 billion for Minnesota every year. Those exports are only available with abundant trade opportunities. Mike Jurik is a grain merchandiser and works in the area of rail logistics for West Central Ag. He says the uncertainty is a huge strain on everyone in agriculture.
Farm leaders say the new European trade deal with Mexico is allowing the EU to displace U.S. sales in Mexico. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico finalized the deal last November but the pact is currently stalled in Congress. Karolyn Zurn is the American Agri-Women’s First Vice President of Vital Issues and Resolutions. She says the message is clear and direct to Congress.
During the roundtable discussion in Hawley, Minnesota’s farm leaders urged Minnesota’s elected officials to break the logjam on USMCA as soon as possible. Their message was a simple one: farmers need more trade opportunities.
Summer workshops will teach farm stress management skills
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is offering a workshop for health professionals in oder to help them assist farmers through incredibly difficult times. Farmer stress is as high as it’s been in decades for a variety of reasons, many of which non-farm folks may not understand. (photo from mda.org)
Farmer stress levels are way, way up. They’re living with weather that won’t let a great many of them get crops in the ground. Overseas trade wars have cut down on places to sell their commodities, leading to a lot of grains and oilseeds on hand, driving prices even lower. Farmer stress is something that mental and even physical health professionals may not have the experience to help them with, so the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is trying to help with that.
Farmer stress is as high as it’s been since the 1980s. Stressful times in agriculture can trigger bad news and difficult conversations. In response, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering Navigating Conflict & Tough Conversations in Agriculture, a workshop designed to help agriculture professionals navigate potentially contentious situations.
It’s Rough in Rural America
“Farmers are having a tough time right now,” Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said. “Farmer stress is high because there’s a lot on the line, and we recognize that lenders, agency staff, clergy, educators, veterinarians, agricultural advisors, and businesspeople can find themselves trying to help in situations where emotions run high.”
Workshop topics include reducing anxiety and fear about interpersonal conflict; understanding how self-awareness and group dynamics contribute to successful outcomes; exploring the connection between conflict and change; and precautions participants can take to keep themselves safe at work – both in and outside their office.
University of Minnesota Extension Educator Denise Stromme and local law enforcement will teach the workshop on dealing with farmer stress at six locations in June and July. All sessions run from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
June 18, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota Community & Technical College
June 19, Thief River Falls, Northland Community & Technical College
June 20, Duluth, Lake Superior College
July 8, Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University
July 9, Faribault, South Central College
July 10, St. Cloud, Saint Cloud Technical & Community College
Listen, I grew up working on a dairy farm and got to understand farmer mindsets. It’s no fun to admit you need help. If there’s a group of Americans who have “John Wayne” go-it-alone-syndrome more than farmers do, I’d like to know who that would be. They don’t want to ask for help. It’s important that health professionals get the background information they need at a workshop like this. The stresses that they deal with are very unique and it’s quite difficult for non-farm folks to relate to. I’ve seen it first hand, living in both rural and urban areas through my 48 years of living.
All participants will receive certificates of attendance; several organizations have approved continuing education credits.
Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Stephen Moser at 651-201-6012 or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 711 as soon as possible.
Disclaimer
This workshop is supported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2018-38640-28416 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ENC18-170. The MDA and USDA are equal opportunity employers and service providers. The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this workshop do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Most people have been behind the wheel of their car when the cell phone rings or they hear the text message beep. We’re so ingrained to answer the phone or check the text message that we may not realize just how dangerous it would be to do those things while driving. Because of the dangers posed by distracted driving, Minnesota joined 17 other states, plus Washington D.C., in passing a hands-free law that goes into effect August 1. But what exactly can, and can’t drivers do?
What Can I do?
“To break it down in the simplest terms, you cannot have a phone in your hand at all while driving,” says Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge. “As of August 1, you can’t even have a cell phone in your hand and hold it up to your ear to make a phone call. Of course, text messages aren’t going to be legal as well.”
It won’t be legal to pull out the cell phone even if drivers are stopped at a stop light or stop sign. “Technically, you’re still driving,” DeGeorge said. “As of August 1, if you’re going to make a phone call in the car, drivers will need some sort of built-in device that will help you make that call hands-free. For example, a Bluetooth-enabled audio system would be legal. Most newer cars these days have something like that built in”
What about GPS?
The next logical question is what about the GPS systems that most drivers can’t live without in an unfamiliar part of the state? DeGeorge says you can still use your GPS system to get where you’re going, as long as it’s hands-free.
“If you’re going to a place like Target Field but haven’t
been there before,” DeGeorge said, “it’s okay to punch in the directions before
you put the vehicle in motion. You can listen to the turn-by-turn directions
while you’re driving, as long as you aren’t using it in any way with your hands
while you’re driving.”
Rushford Police Officer Kaylee Inglett said the key to being legal is not having it in your hand for any reason while you’re driving. “We can definitely see other drivers who have their phones in hand and up to their ears just driving down the road,” she said. “it’s not too hard to spot someone talking on their phone while driving. Sometimes we see distracted driving just by how their moving down the road, too. It’s a lot of the same signs as impaired driving.”
Distracted Driving Dangers
DeGeorge said the average citizen may not realize it, but
their car can instantly become a several-thousand-pound missile moving down the
road at a high rate of speed when the driver isn’t focused on the road. Impaired
driving affects judgement and slows a driver’s reaction time. Distracted
driving does some of the same things.
“It takes your attention away from the road and the other
vehicles,” DeGeorge said. “It slows your reaction time. How much ground can
someone cover while they’re typing out a text message behind the wheel and
going 55-60 miles per hour. You aren’t going to stop on a dime. If you look up
and find yourself weaving out of your line and another car is coming at you, it
might be the same thing as pointing a weapon at them. That’s basically what’s
happening in that situation.”
Distracted driving is a problem in southeast Minnesota, and it has cost lives. DeGeorge says he has seen a fatal accident firsthand and it’s something you don’t forget, both as a law enforcement officer and a human being. “For me, it was an instant feeling of regret for what happened,” he recalled upon seeing the aftereffects of a fatality.
Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge says Minnesota’s “Hands-Free” Law starts on August 1. (Photo from Facebook.com)
“When you think that just minutes earlier, this person was
safely driving down the road and a split-second decision to do something like
read or send a text message resulted in someone innocent being killed,” he
added. “It wasn’t something like a crime of passion. Someone didn’t spend all
day drinking at a bar and get behind the wheel. It was someone that could have
been on their way home, to church, or to a kid’s school event. It didn’t have
to happen.”
He added, “It’s not a malicious act. It’s someone doing something as simple as not paying attention and wound up having the most tragic results possible.
Here’s a great report from WKBT TV in La Crosse, Wisconsin, with comments from the La Crescent Police Chief Doug Stavenau
Penalties
Inglett says there will be an escalating series of fines starting on August 1. “The first ticket is $50 dollars, which will include going to court, which will include court fees,” she said. “The next ticket will jump to $275, as are any subsequent tickets. Remember, there are also court fees with each ticket.
“It was so important to law enforcement officers around the
state to get this law passed,” she said. “We see so many distracted drivers
every day. The numbers are there when we talk about distracted driving. Not
looking at the road and not paying attention to your surroundings when you’re
driving a huge metal object can be just as detrimental and deadly as impaired
driving.”
Inglett says she’s a young police officer who hasn’t had to
respond to a tragic accident from distracted driving yet. That doesn’t mean she
hasn’t seen and spoken to people who’ve been involved in that type of accident.
“During my training at the police academy, we heard a talk
from someone that had killed another driver while they were distracted,” she
recalled. “The lasting impact those words had on our class was incredible. We
were able to see crime scene photos from the case, so even though we weren’t
there firsthand, we saw what the worst results could look like.
“The pictures of the victim and the vehicles were
heartbreaking,” she added. “A simple decision like picking up someone’s phone
took somebody else’s life.”
Minnesota Gopher basketball can be a polarizing discussion among their fans. The team finished the 2018-2019 men’s campaign with a 22-14 record. While there are dozens of colleges and universities that would be thrilled with 22 wins and a victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, not all Gopher fans were pleased with the outcome. Mike Grimm is the 13-year radio voice of the Golden Gophers, who made a recent appearance on the Minnesota Sports Weekly podcast. He says it’s important to keep a little perspective when fans look at a basketball season.
“I think it’s all how you look at it,” said Grimm. “It’s hard to say it was a disappointment. I’ve seen people say that on social media and I think they’re wrong. It’s not worth getting into a disagreement with someone if they don’t have the time or patience to look at the history of Minnesota Gopher basketball. We don’t have the history here as a UCLA does.
“This program has only appeared in 14 NCAA tournament, with two of those appearances in the last three years,” he added. “Anyone who suggests they should be ashamed of a season in which they made an NCAA Tournament and won a game for the second time in 20 years is being silly. That’s just dumb.”
There’s no such thing as a perfect college basketball season. However, Mike Grimm, radio voice of Minnesota Gopher basketball, says the 2018-2019 campaign was pretty good, especially when you look at the history of men’s basketball at the University of Minnesota. (Photo from krocam.)
Grimm says if people really want to nitpick, they can. The
Gophers did let leads slip away in a few games and they lost a few they
probably shouldn’t have. However, they also beat Purdue twice and beat the
Badgers IN Wisconsin for the first time in over a decade. They knocked off the
PAC-12 champion Washington Huskies to win the Vancouver Showcase.
“There were a lot of good things that happened,” Grimm said.
“Remember, this was one of the toughest Big Ten seasons, top-to-bottom. The
Gophers didn’t have a bunch of easy wins anywhere on this season’s schedule. The
Gophers had to play a total of nine games out of a possible ten against the top
five teams in the conference.
“There’s really no reason to sit and argue about it,” he added. “If you want to call it a disappointment, then you haven’t done enough research or you’re just being lazy about it.”
One of the highlights from last season for the Gopher men’s basketball squad was beating Purdue twice in the regular season, as well as a third time in the Big Ten Tournament.
He’s quick to say there were things that could have been done better. However, to say a coach should be fired after leading a team to a win in the NCAA Tournament is “ludicrous.” Grimm took it a step further, saying people who think Minnesota Gopher basketball shouldn’t be proud of this past season is “stupid, really.”
One of the bigger issues when it comes to the Gophers and
social media was a sometimes-heated discussion over the contract extension given
to Richard Pitino. The agreement will keep Pitino at the University of
Minnesota for a total of another five years. It’s the third contract extension
for the coach since joining the U back in 2013.
“There are some benefits to doing it now, especially when it
comes to recruiting,” he said. “But I know it’s hard to forget the
disappointment of the previous season. At one point, that team was 14-3 overall
and ranked at No. 11 in the country. Then, the you-know-what hit the fan.”
That team went 2-14 the rest of the way as the wheels fell
completely off the wagon. There were so many injuries to contend with, and then
the suspension and expulsion of Reggie Lynch added a huge distraction to the
season. “I’m not saying what’s right or what’s wrong,” Grimm added, “but there
are probably schools where Reggie Lynch stays on the team.” However, there’s no
question it’s a university policy and an important issue.”
The main thing about the Lynch situation Grimm wants to get
across is it definitely played a role in the abysmal end to the season. Then,
there were injuries to several players, including Amir Coffey, Dupree McBrayer,
and Eric Curry, to deal with. That dragged everything down to a 2-14 record to
end the season and any momentum from the NCAA appearance the prior season was
lost.
“If he were sitting on three-straight tournament berths, which
likely would have been the case if the wheels didn’t fall off last season, I
don’t think too many people would be second-guessing,” Grimm said. “I know
people cite the 40-70 Big Ten record, but it’s important to remember that this
conference is tough every season. And, if you have two down seasons of 4-14 and
2-16 in the conference, it’s going to be hard to improve your record, even
during successful seasons.
“The extension is also really good for recruiting,” Grimm
said. “I know people want to dismiss it and say, ‘kids aren’t that dumb,’ but
it does make a difference. Everything makes a difference.”
Grimm was frank in saying that if the school does want out
of the deal with Pitino, it’ll actually cost the school less money next year
than it would have without the extension. “I don’t know why people lost their
minds over it,” he pointed out. “There are just some people that thrive on
negativity in this market.
There are things you can nitpick when it comes to Pitino as
far as in-game strategies and substitution patterns. However, that’s something fans
can do with any coach. But Grimm said you can take that too far.
“To sound off about contract extensions and ask why they
didn’t even have a news conference is crazy. There are certain people that love
to be negative and won’t give anyone the benefit of the doubt. It’s the world
we live in, and it’s an everywhere-thing, not just a Minnesota-thing.
Negativity sells and people seem to love it.”
When you hear the word “hops,” you might think of beer. Hops are used in beer production to add bitter, floral, fruity, or citric flavors and essential oils for preservation. However, Japanese hops lack an essential resin for beer production. Common hops are a similar native species and can be used for beer production. Introduced to North America as ornamental vines, they are native to eastern Asia. Unfortunately, Japanese hops escaped cultivation and have become invasive.
Japanese hops form a dense mat and can choke out other plants. (Contributed Photo)
Japanese hops have distinct bracts where the leaf and petiole attach to the stem. The leaves have toothed edges with 5 to 9 lobes arranged palmately (shaped like a hand with fingers extended), while common hops only have up to 5 lobes.
The weed has both male and female vines. With female vines, seeds are produced in conical husks; male vines produce pollen from flowers. Hooked hairs on the stem and leaves help the vines climb but can irritate human skin after contact.
Seeds from the vine are easily dispersed by wind, water, wildlife, vehicles, and equipment. This allows the invasive weed to grow very rapidly. In just one season, they can grow up to 35 feet long. The vines twine around to climb vegetation and structures, capable of smothering desirable vegetation and producing dense mats several feet thick.
Japanese hops have distinct bracts where the leaf and petiole attach to the stem. (Contributed Photo)
Japanese hops are annual vines in Minnesota but can be perennial in warmer climates. They thrive in partial to full sun including next to rivers, along roadsides, grasslands, and forest edges.
They’ve been found in southeastern Minnesota along the Root and Mississippi rivers, as well as in the city of Winona. Most infestations are on riverbanks and creep into adjacent forest understory.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the results of the 2017 Census of Agriculture, spanning some 6.4 million new points of information about America’s farms and ranches and those who operate them. The Census includes new data about on-farm decision making, right down to the county level. The Information is collected by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) directly from farmers and ranchers.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its 2017 Census of Agriculture results this week.
The 2017 Census tells us both farm numbers and the amount of land in farms have decreased slightly since the last Census in 2012. At the same time, there continue to be more of the largest and smallest operations and fewer middle-sized farms. The average age of all farmers and ranchers continues to rise.
“We are pleased to deliver Census of Agriculture results to America, and especially to the farmers and ranchers who participated,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “We can all use the Census to tell the tremendous story of U.S. agriculture and how it is changing.
Perdue adds, “As a data-driven organization, we are eager to dig in to this wealth of information to advance our goals of supporting farmers and ranchers, facilitating rural prosperity, and strengthening stewardship of private lands efficiently, effectively, and with integrity.”
“The Census shows new data that can be compared to previous censuses for insights into agricultural trends and changes down to the county level,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “While the current picture shows a consistent trend in the structure of U.S. agriculture, there are some ups and downs since the last Census.
“There’s also first-time data on topics such as military status and on-farm decision making,” Hamer added. “To make it easier to delve into the data, we are pleased to make the results available in many online formats, including a new data query interface, as well as traditional data tables.”
Census data provide valuable insights into demographics, economics, land and activities on U.S. farms and ranches.
Some key highlights include:
There are 2.04 million farms and ranches (down 3.2 percent from 2012) with an average size of 441 acres (up 1.6 percent) on 900 million acres (down 1.6 percent).
The 273,000 smallest (1-9 acres) farms make up 0.1 percent of all farmland while the 85,127 largest (2,000 or more acres) farms make up 58 percent of farmland.
Just 105,453 farms produced 75 percent of all sales in 2017, down from 119,908 in 2012.
Of the 2.04 million farms and ranches, the 76,865 making $1 million or more in 2017 represent just over 2/3 of the $389 billion in total value of production while the 1.56 million operations making under $50,000 represent just 2.9 percent.
Farm expenses are $326 billion with feed, livestock purchased, hired labor, fertilizer and cash rents topping the list of farm expenses in 2017.
Average farm income is $43,053. A total of 43.6 percent of farms had positive net cash farm income in 2017.
Ninety-six percent of farms and ranches are family owned.
Farms with Internet access rose from 69.6 percent in 2012 to 75.4 percent in 2017.
A total of 133,176 farms and ranches use renewable energy producing systems, more than double the 57,299 in 2012.
In 2017, 130,056 farms sold directly to consumers, with sales of $2.8 billion.
Sales to retail outlets, institutions and food hubs by 28,958 operations are valued at $9 billion.
For the 2017 Census of Agriculture, NASS changed the demographic questions to better represent the roles of everyone involved in on-farm decision making. As a result, in the number of producers is up by nearly seven percent to 3.4 million, in part because more farms reported multiple producers. Most of these newly identified producers are female. While the number of male producers fell 1.7 percent to 2.17 million from 2012 to 2017, the number of female producers increased by nearly 27 percent to 1.23 million. This change underscores the effectiveness of the questionnaire changes.
Other demographic highlights include:
The average age of all producers is 57.5, up 1.2 years from 2012.
The number of producers who have served in the military is 370,619, or 11 percent of all. They are older than the average at 67.9.
There are 321,261 young producers age 35 or less on 240,141 farms. Farms with young producers making decisions tend to be larger than average in both acres and sales.
More than any other age group, young producers make decisions regarding livestock, though the difference is slight.
One in four producers is a beginning farmer with 10 or fewer years of experience and an average age of 46.3. Farms with new or beginning producers making decisions tend to be smaller than average in both acres and value of production.
Thirty-six percent of all producers are female and 56 percent of all farms have at least one female decision maker. Farms with female producers making decisions tend to be smaller than average in both acres and value of production.
Female producers are most heavily engaged in the day-to-day decisions along with record keeping and financial management.
Results are available in many online formats including video presentations, a new data query interface, maps, and traditional data tables. To address questions about the 2017 Census of Agriculture data, NASS will host a live Twitter chat (@usda_nass) Ask the Census Experts #StatChat on Friday, April 12 at 1 p.m. ET. All information is available at www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.
History of the Census
The Census tells the story of American agriculture and is an important part of our history. First conducted in 1840, the Census of Agriculture accounts for all U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. After 1920, the Census happened every four to five years. By 1982, it was regularly conducted once every five years.
Today, NASS sends questionnaires to nearly 3 million potential U.S. farms and ranches. Nearly 25 percent of those who responded did so online. Conducted since 1997 by USDA NASS – the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture – it remains the only source of comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation and is invaluable for planning the future.
Farm country is getting closer and closer to spring planting. Farmers are starting to look at their planters longingly, dreaming of being out in the field. After a wet winter that resulted in serious flooding problems, the nation’s midsection is looking for a spell of dry weather. However, ag meteorologist Ryan Martin of Warsaw, Indiana, says planters are likely going to sit a spell yet. It’s important to remember that we’re way too early to think about seriously-delayed spring planting.
“It probably going to be late this month or early into next month before planters get rolling,” Martin said. “It’s way too early to start thinking about serious spring planting delays. We’re actually not even at first planting dates in a large part of the Corn Belt yet.
Heartland Forecast
“As I look at the pattern stretching all the way from the
Great Plains through the Corn Belt, we’ve got a big weather system that wants
to move through late this weekend (Sunday, April 7 possibly through early
Tuesday the 9th). There won’t be a lot of good drying time after
that running through the end of the week.”
After that, there’s another system in the 11-to-16-day forecast that may have 1-3 inches of rain coming across all the key growing areas. Martin says, flooding and current situation aside, the forecast doesn’t give farmers enough of a window in there to really start spring planting en masse.
The Elkhorn River in Nebraska is way over its banks, covering up a lot of farm ground in Nebraska. Spring planting is likely to be delayed in a large part of the Midwest and Corn Belt because of flooding just like this. (Photo from Omaha.com)
Parts of Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri have been devastated by flooding this spring, and the dry weather farmers are looking for really isn’t going to happen. “I don’t think so,” he said. “The way the pattern looks over the next 10 days, I’m counting two systems that come through. One won’t have a huge amount of rain, but the second one could bring as much as a quarter-inch to as much as 1.25 inches.
“Normally at this time of year that would be good news,”
Martin added. “But, the way things are set up right now it’s just not good.”
Southern Plains/Delta
There are some planters rolling deeper in the Southern Plains and in the Delta. Martin said the weather pattern in that part of the country shows that farmers may have to dodge some thunderstorms in order to keep spring planting going forward.
“Fronts will be coming through but as they do, they won’t
hit everyone at the same time,” he said. “Over the next three weeks or so,
those storms will end up with about 60-70 percent coverage at any given time.
It doesn’t look too excessive to me right now. It’ll be a hodgepodge type of
activity that should eventually allow crops into the ground and then get the crops
the kind of rainfall they need to get going.”
The pattern for the heaviest rains wants to stay a little
farther north into the Central Plains and the Missouri Valley Corn Belt areas.
The interesting area to watch will be the far east part of the Deep South,
where the likelihood of getting the crop in the ground on time is pretty good.
“Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and up into Tennessee are places where temperatures might lag a little behind normal,” Martin said. “There could be some thunderstorm development but I’m not quite as bullish on rain or bearish on getting spring planting in the Deep South done as I am farther north.”
Potential Flooding
Possible in Upper Midwest
There won’t be as much happening in the western states in
terms of precipitation like there will be in other parts of the country. The
biggest story in the western U.S. won’t be in terms of new systems moving
through. It’ll more likely involve snowpack runoff. The interesting thing about
snowpack runoff is the problems won’t necessarily be just out west.
“The Red River likely will hit major flood stage in eastern
North Dakota and western Minnesota,” he said. “There is snowpack that goes all
the way back up into Montana and into the northern Rockies. The biggest question
is just how fast we’ll see that snow melt and move through the area.
“The question is whether we’ll see a fast snowmelt with temps above normal,” he added. “That could be the story more than new systems coming through. Temperatures are still a little squirrely as temps likely will lag behind normal due to all that snowpack that still sits on the ground in those areas I mentioned.”
Many different sources of stress are currently impacting farmers and ranchers. In response to the growing pressure on agriculture, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Red River Farm Network (RRFN) have joined forces to create a new radio series called TransFARMation.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is teaming up with the Red River Farm Network to launch a radio series called TransFARMation, designed to help farmers deal with the stresses they’re under and to encourage them to ask for help, if needed.
“Farming is a stressful business during the best of times,” says Don Wick, president, RRFN. “Agriculture’s financial health is being influenced by tight margins, the trade war, production issues, and more. These are all factors where farmers and ranchers have little or no control.”
The series uses farm radio, podcasts, and social media to increase awareness and reduce inhibitions about acknowledging farmer stress. It will also highlight sources of support.
“Many people are struggling and they need to know they’re not alone,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “This is a powerful series – we hear from farmers, ranchers, and others in agriculture talk about some of the strategies and solutions that helped them when things got tough.”
The 60 second prime-time radio stories can be heard on all of RRFN’s 20 stations throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, starting the week of April 8. In addition, the in-depth podcasts can be found at www.rrfn.com/transfarmation.
TransFARMation is supported by a grant from the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) National Institute for Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, and by AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, North Dakota Corn Growers Association, North Dakota Farmers Union, North Dakota Soybean Council, North Dakota Wheat Commission, and Prairie St. John’s.
Broadcasts are solely the responsibility of the creators and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC, NIOSH, or the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, or other problems, the free and confidential Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline is available 24 hours, seven days a week at 833-600-2670.
