When RRFN visited Lake Benton, Minnesota, farmer Bob Worth on Tuesday’s Crop Watch broadcast, moisture concerns were mounting. Worth says the lack of moisture is influencing weed control. “The corn, we’ve had it in the ground quite a while, so our pre is gone on the corn and the weeds are coming,” said Worth. “Soybeans, we didn’t put pre on except for one farm, it was just so dry we didn’t think it’d work.” Persistent spring winds have compounded the problem, creating soil erosion issues across portions of southwest Minnesota. “People who use these high-speed tillage tools made the ground really fine,” Worth said. “You could tell every farmer who used it. It really blew. There was enough dirt in the road ditches that they had to scoop it out. It was serious.” Worth said the wind erosion was among the worst he has seen in decades. “It was worse than back when I just started farming in the early ’70s when we plowed everything.” The blowing dirt damaged some corn and soybean stands, but Worth says most corn survived because the growing point remained protected below the soil surface.
