NEW ULM — South Central College Farm Business Management Instructor Wayne Schoper says recent rain and snow make him cautiously optimistic about 2023 crop prospects in southern Minnesota.

“We went into winter with extremely dry subsoil, but with December snow and rain, good planting moisture is projected,” Schoper said. “We should be rolling May 1, which is just 90 days away. Spring will be here before we know it.”

“We’re cautiously optimistic. Right now, there appears to be jetstream movement we haven’t seen for a few years,” Schoper added. “We’re looking at a normal rainfall season. Maybe 20 inches or so during the growing season. Precipitation is always a big player to get crops off to a good start.”

Last year Brown County rainfall was 6.06 inches below normal, the 14th driest year over the past 128 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

December 2022 was the 14th wettest on record, nearly an inch above normal, according to NOAA.

Sibley County rainfall was 9.73 inches below normal in 2022, the fourth driest year on record. December precipitation was .82 inches above normal, the 18th wettest December on record.

Nicollet County rainfall was 8.29 inches below normal in 2022, the sixth driest year on record. December 2022 was .63 above normal, the 25th wettest December on record.

Renville County rainfall was 7.51 inches below normal in 2022, the 10th driest year on record. December precipitation was 1.15 inches above normal.

Redwood County rainfall was 5.57 inches below normal in 2022, the 15th driest year on record. December precipitation was 1.06 inches above normal.

“We see the drought easing. We’ve been through them before, in 1986-88, 2011-12, 2021-2022,” said Schoper.

He suggested producers may want to lock in on crop prices for 2023 production.

“We’ve had a couple big years since August 2020. Corn is about $5.50 to $6 a bushel. Beans are about $13,” Schoper said. “But we’re looking at higher input and land rent costs, depending on where people are at.”

Schoper said a Mexican GMO corn ban could be a factor if it goes through.

“It could be a huge factor that could hugely affect farm profitability,” he added. “But, I think we’ve proved that GMO corn is great.”

For more information, visit https://www.drought.gov/minnesota/county/brown