As farmers in northwest Minnesota struggle to get in the last of the corn and soybean crop, Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap says the biggest hurdle right now is a shortage of L-P gas where producers need it. “The crop is later than normal,” says Paap. “It’s wetter than normal, so it’s taking more gas to dry, and this cold weather is also increasing demand — not only residential and business heating but also for our livestock.”
Paap says an executive order by Governor Tim Walz helped the situation by temporarily relaxing restrictions on hours for motor carrier drivers.
Paap says farmers can’t really do much more harvest of root crops like potatoes and sugar beets — however, “Corn and soybeans, mostly corn, left in the field, the cold weather has been somewhat helpful with our muddy conditions [in] being able to harvest the crop.”
Papp is urging motorists to be extra careful because there’s more farm equipment than usual on rural roads at this time of year.