BENTON AG
Although the top of the wheat in Mark Czech’s field looks green and healthy as of June 16, Czech said the crop normally would be a foot higher at this point in the growing season. Czech said he will likely lose between 20%-30% of his wheat yield this year.
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Serving rural Benton, Morrison, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties
Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, June 19, 2021
Herds with lowest somatic cell count recognized ST. PAUL – The annual list of top Minnesota dairy herds with low somatic cell counts has been released. SCC is a key indicator of milk quality – a lower SCC count is better for cheese production and a longer shelf life for milk. In honor of June Dairy Month, 96 Minnesota dairy farms are being recognized for superior herd management skills by achieving an average SCC of under 100,000. “I’m honored to be able to recognize these 96 dairies for their high level of excellence,” said Commissioner Thom Petersen, of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. “These dairy farmers work hard 365 days a year to produce high-quality, wholesome dairy products for all of us to enjoy, and I thank them for their contributions to feed Minnesota and the world.” Although somatic cells occur naturally and are not a food safety concern, dairy farmers monitor them because they can be used as a measure of the health of their cows. Processors also pay a premium for milk with low counts.
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SCC page 2B
Farmers in battle
with hot, dry weather
Could impact crops yields, livestock
“The biggest thing is it’s hot, dry, and we need water. That’s it, and we don’t have to worry as much.”
BY JAKOB KOUNKEL STAFF WRITER
FOLEY – Whether the weather is too dry, too wet, too cold or too warm, as Mark Czech of Czech’s Roadside Acres in Gilman said, “It’s always something.” This year, farmers in Benton County are experiencing drought-like conditions they fear will negatively impact crop yields. A minor portion of northwest Benton County is in a moderate drought, according to information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The rest of the county is considered abnormally dry. In the month of May, the county experienced 1.42 inches less rain than in a normal year – a historically dry month. “The biggest concern I have right now is that we’re not getting any water,” said Nathan Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension Educator for crops in Benton, Stearns and Morrison counties. … “If we don’t get water here soon, we might run into some issues with
– Nathan Drewitz,
University of Minnesota Extension Educator
PHOTOS BY JAKOB KOUNKEL
Standing in a field of wheat, Mark Czech assesses a field a few miles away from his farm June 16 in Gilman. Czech said his wheat crop is his main concern.
yield hits.” There are a multitude of reasons why dry weather can negatively impact crop yields other than plant hydration, Drewitz said, like the fact that drought-resistant weeds thrive under dry conditions. Additionally, without rain, chemicals and fertilizers are not absorbed
properly into the soil. “I worry about our weed control working properly,” Czech said. “One thing I did notice this spring is my nitrogen did not get rained into the soil. I saw corn that looked nitrogen deficient and it shouldn’t have been.” Workers on Czech’s farm
are broadcasting nitrogen in the meantime, giving the farm a 10-day window until the area, hopefully, receives rain. “Herbicides need to be activated and worked into the soil to work,” Drewitz said. Dry weather page 2B
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FLUEGGE’S AG
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