Cold Overnight Temperatures Not A Concern For Crops

(KNSI/KDLM) – A hard frost over the last several nights in the Lakes Area had temperatures dip into the low 30s, but University of Minnesota Extension Educator Nathan Drewitz says the cold is not a problem for crops, as a majority of them are mature at this point.

“Most of the crops in that area should be browned. We should have hit black layer in our corn and in our beans. Those pods should be yellowed at this point. In fact, I know from some pictures that they are yellowing out pretty good.”

Drewitz says corn for silage is already being cut down. A majority of the harvest was already expected to be in within a week. Drewitz talks further about the maturation of the soybean crop.

“From the soybean standpoint, most of our leaves have dropped in most fields. There are still a few green ones out there, but is it really going to have a large impact on yields and things? Most likely not. I’m not all that concerned.”

Drewitz says anything that is still green could potentially face problems if we reach 28 degrees for a sustained period during the overnight, which is far colder than expected.

Lows for the rest of the week rebound to the upper-40’s and 50’s.