KTRF / North Country News

Tuesday July 16th 2012

There is concern for the area’s corn and soybean crops as persistent drought conditions continue in Northwestern Minnesota …

Pennington and Marshall County Extension Agent, Howard Person, says producers are worried that stressed crops will fail to pollinate because of low moisture and heat. The corn crop is early this year, now entering a vulnerable growing stage and in need of moisture to guarantee good pollination.

Person says the Sunflower Crop continues to do well since it is drought tolerant, and he says the Wheat and Barley Crop is already “made” – the small grains are ripe and beyond the help of timely rains. However, without moisture the area soybean crop will soon begin to abort pods.

Person says he expects many commodities to be in short supply this year with persistent drought across much of the Nation. Shortened supplies are putting upward pressure on markets but Person said yesterday you can only take advantage of better prices if you have a harvest to sell.