Monday, April 18, 2016

West central Minnesota farmer begins corn planting

Here is my interview with Mark Dorenkamp from Brownfield Ag News:
http://brownfieldagnews.com/2016/04/14/west-central-minnesota-farmer-begins-corn-planting/

A west-central Minnesota farmer has started planting corn.

Noah Hultgren of Raymond in Kandiyohi County says conditions are good overall, but a little dry.
“The seed bed worked up really nice (and) level; we’re not finding a lot of chunks in the ground.  But we are planting maybe a little bit deeper (2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches).  Ideally, we’d like to be closer to 2 inches, but that’s how far you have to go down to find moisture to put the seed into.”

He tells Brownfield if the current forecast of warm temperatures and rain early next week holds true, it would be ideal.

“Get a few days (of planting) in here, then an inch of rain would be very welcome.  With the soil temps probably in the low 40’s (combined) with the air temperatures getting to 70+ degrees, I see soil temps really gaining.”

Corn germinates when soils are 50 degrees and warmer.

Hultgren, the current president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, reminds everyone to use caution on the roads as farm activity picks up.

Listen to the audio interview here