Drought Impact Varies Farm to Farm

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Aug 14, 2012 at 8:09 am

ST. PAUL, MN (KNSI) - The corn on LeRoy Johnson's southeastern Minnesota farm is dying. Just about 60 miles to the northeast near Plainview, however, Michael Zabel expects to reap record yields.

Conditions vary considerably, but Minnesota's corn growers have largely dodged the historic drought that has parched much of the Midwest. Minnesota's projected corn yields are down only marginally.

Climatologist Mark Seeley says Minnesota's unusually wet spring banked enough moisture in the soil to help crops get through one of the hottest, driest Julys ever. Updated estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week projected corn yields nationally at 123 bushels per acre, down 24 bushels from 2011.

Minnesota's overall yield is expected to be only one bushel less per acre than it was in 2011, at 155 bushels.

Posted By JW Cox

Staff Writer

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