Print this story |
E-mail story |
Add a comment |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Heavy rain hurts crops
Ponding could be a problem
Published 10:24 a.m., June 17, 2009
Crops in Otter Tail County, despite heavy rainfall Tuesday in many areas, are holding their own. Ponding, however, is a concern for many farmers, including farmers near Rothsay where 3.5 inches of rain fell.
“We need to see water dissipate as quickly as possible,” said Regional Extension Educator Doug Holen. “Long-standing water can result in severe crop damage.”
Holen farms between Dalton and Underwood where about 1.5 inches of rain fell. In addition to ponding, some farmers witnessed the toppling of hay and alfalfa. While many alfalfa growers previously completed their harvest, those who still have work to do will have harvest challenges following Tuesday’s rainfall, said Holen.
Rothsay Farmers Elevator General Manager Paul Jorgenson said farmers are keeping their fingers crossed so that his area doesn’t receive more heavy rainfall in the next couple of days.
“We need to see those ponds in the low-lying areas dry out,” he said. “After three or four days, with water still in the fields, it’s deadly for the crops if all of a sudden you get a 85-degree or 90-degree day.”
Jorgenson said many farmers in the Rothsay area were in need of rain, “but certainly not to the degree of what took place on Tuesday.”
Fergus Falls rainfall totaled 0.82 of an inch on Tuesday. The highest total in this area of west central Minnesota, 5.50 inches, was reported in the Barnesville area.
Wayne Nosal of J & S Farmers Mill in Barnesville said that no area roads were washed out, despite water running across roadways. Alfalfa damage is widespread, however.
The Barnesville area is similar to the Rothsay and Dalton areas where ponding took place. Water dissipation in the next couple of days is critical to the welfare of the crops, said Nosal.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)
You may also register to comment in our forums at www.fergusfeedback.com.