CRYSTAL, N.D. — Drought is rearing its ugly head across much of Agweek Country.
The 2016 crop season in Crystal and much of the rest of northeast North Dakota was ravaged by storms that brought hail, high winds and heavy and frequent precipitation.
The difficult growing season also created extra stress and frustration for farmers and other agriculturalists.
But all the 2016 precipitation left many fields with plentiful subsoil moisture, which will help crops withstand hot, windy stretches this growing season.
Having subsoil moisture doesn’t eliminate the need for summer rains, but it provides some cushion.
Diverse crops Farmers in the Crystal area grow many crops.
Corn, soybeans, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes and dry edible beans are most common; other crops, including canola and sunflowers are raised, too.
Though Crystal, population about 150, struggled in 2016, the community enjoyed a wave of new construction in 2010-11.
Though the subsoil moisture will help with that, rain will be needed, too.
Ganssle says that applies this growing season in his area.