Winter Season Brings New Programs and Strain on Many Crops for Minnesota Farmers

By: Mary Balstad marybalstad@rjbroadcasting.com

Minnesota – With the chill in the air and frost on the ground, the winter season is slowly but surely arriving in Minnesota. Farmers are preparing for the inclement weather, but the question remains, is it too little too late? The intense drought of the summer, heavy rain during the harvest, and now cold weather threatening what remains to be harvested could cause stress on various producers. Even if equipment is running and some crops such as sunflowers are flourishing, this sentiment may not be the same for other products. Extension Educator Heather Dufault spoke about the winter season and how the cold weather is already affecting many crops.

The Extension Office is keeping an eye on these crops, but also their winter programs. With training for pesticide application, small grain updates and the Master Gardener program, these can offer answers to questions many individuals may have about about common occurrences during the fall season.

Although harvest is winding down, farm vehicles and equipment are still on the roads. Dufault reminds listeners to slow down on roads with larger trucks, as well as roads that have debris such as mud as it can be hazardous.