Danny Roskamp kicks up dust while planting soybeans northeast of Hardwick last week. Due to the dry soil conditions, farmers across the state are reaching the fastest planting on record in 30 years.

Hills and the surrounding area received much-needed moisture in the form of rain Sunday afternoon May 10. The town of Hills received 2.5 inches and west of Hills a total of 3 inches was recorded. The above photo shows a field near Sheldon Sandager’s farm located on 31st Street near Hills.

Some areas by Hills received 3 inches of rain Sunday.

Corn emergence is also at a record-setting pace with 39 percent of the state’s crop emerged as of May 10, compared to the five-year average of 13 percent.

From dust to deluge; planting season takes off at record pace for 2015

Tue, 05/12/2015 - 3:33pm mfodness

By:

Mavis Fodness

Last week Minnesota farmers tied a 30-year record for the most soybean acres planted in a single week.

That follows the pace set by corn planting the previous week when corn producers had the second-highest acres planted in 30 years, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

For Kenneth farmer Danny Roskamp (picture above) last week meant a personal milestone in the 21 years he has been farming.

“On Wednesday (May 6) I was 100 percent done,” he said. “It’s the quickest I have ever been done.”

Roskamp’s fast finish didn’t mean he rushed to finish planting his 1,000 acres. It meant that the lack of rainfall didn’t hinder his progress. Normally, he said his schedule has planting finished by the third week in May.

In the past two weeks almost 11 days were suitable for fieldwork in the state, the weekly reported stated.

As of May 10, farmers are 95 percent complete in corn acreage planting, compared to the five-year average of 50 percent. Corn emergence is at 39 percent. The five-year average is 13 percent.

The state’s soybean acreage is 70 percent planted. The five-year average is 17 percent for May 10.

The evening after Roskamp finished with the 2015 planting season, it started to rain locally.

“We’re happy,” Roskamp said about the rain.

The area had scattered showers beginning on Wednesday, May 6, with the most rainfall occurring on Mother’s Day, May 10.

At the Luverne airport, volunteer weather recorder Troy Thone recorded 0.98 inches of rain.

“I’ve heard of heavier amounts east of Luverne, anywhere from 1 inch to 1.5 inches,” he said.

Farmers in western Rock County reported 2.5 to 3 inches from Sunday’s weather event, with some areas suffering field washouts and flood damage.