Minnesota farmers face wet season crop challenges

By Scout Nelson

As harvest season approaches, many Minnesota farmers are concerned about how much of their crops they will be able to harvest this year. Unlike last year’s drought, this season brought more rain than many fields could handle, leaving farmers dealing with excessive water damage.

"Way too much of a good thing is just that: Too much of a good thing," said Owen Gohlke, owner of GoldKey Farms. He first made this statement in June, and almost three months later, his assessment remains the same.

“There was water here until about Aug. 1. The water didn’t completely go away until Aug. 1,” Gohlke explained, referencing one of his cornfields near Belle Plaine, which was particularly hard-hit. The field was submerged for much of the summer, turning into what Gohlke described as a lake rather than just a pond.

Though the water eventually receded, it left behind a barren area where corn should have grown. Instead, the only thing flourishing is weeds. Gohlke estimates that he has lost approximately 18% of his corn crop this year, compared to just 5% in the previous drought seasons.

The average rainfall for Gohlke’s field is typically 25 inches annually, but this year, it has exceeded 40 inches. The crops that survived near the waterlogged areas have also been stunted in growth.

“This contrast is something farmers are used to seeing,” Gohlke remarked. While crop insurance will cover some of the losses, it won’t cover everything. Gohlke believes that a slightly drier growing season would have been more favorable than the excessive rain.

In addition to his corn losses, about 20% of his soybean crop didn’t get planted because of the wet conditions. All Gohlke can do now is hope for better conditions next season as he prepares for the upcoming harvest.

Photo Credit:gettyimages-eugenesergeev