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Northern potato growers would appreciate a rain

Soil conditions have gone from too wet to very dry as potato planting wraps up in northern states.

In northwest Minnesota, farmer Peter Imle says soil conditions are much better now for the seed and fresh potatoes on his farm considering there was a lot of snowfall over the winter.

 “If anything, I think folks are lacking for a little moisture, but as the crop goes in, I think it may remedy itself.”

In northern Wisconsin, Charlie Husnick, a farm manager for Baginski Farms, says irrigation will start earlier than usual for their seed potatoes, which were planted in record time this spring.

“In Antigo, it’s not very common before June 1, let alone the middle of June. When the top couple of inches get so hot, the sprout as it comes through the soil could burn right off. It gets so hot it might sprout so we irrigate to boost emergence.”

However, both tell Brownfield they are optimistic for the upcoming growing season as long as there is rain in the forecast.

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