Heavy

rains

flood

area

farmland

Up to 5 inches

of rain reported

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

GAYLORD -- Late afternoon rains dumped up to 5 inches of rain in parts of Sibley and McLeod counties Sunday, according to DeeDee McCormick of the Minnesota Farm Service Agency Office.

An undetermined amount of farmland was under water near New Auburn, Glencoe and Green Isle where 4-5 inches of rain were reported, McCormick said.

Rainfall in Sibley County varied widely with 1 1/4 inches south of Winthrop and 2 1/2 inches near Gibbon.

"I haven't been out to survey the damage yet," McCormick said. "All I know is what I've heard from farmers that came into the office."

McCormick and other agriculture officials will tour the area Wednesday to determine more details.

In Nicollet County, wind damage was reported in Courtland, Brighton, Bernadotte, New Sweden and Lake Prairie townships. Several sweet corn and soybean fields were flattened, Extension Educator Gary Hachfeld said.

Previous storm damage is still an issue.

"Some of the corn pushed down by heavy winds really took off in the recent hot weather and the roots weren't deep into the ground," Hachfeld said. "It will probably mean some yield losses."

Nicollet County rainfall Sunday averaged about a half inch.

A storm spotter reported a tornado 6 miles north of New Ulm.

Straight line winds knocked down sweet corn and even ditch grass in a small part of southern Renville County, near Highway 19, between Fairfax and Franklin.

Two inches of rain was reported near Fort Ridgely State Park. An inch of rain fell north of Morton, near Beaver Falls.

No crop damaged reports were available Monday from Brown and Redwood counties.

Storm spotters reported 1-inch hail 2 miles east of Springfield and .88" hail in Comfrey.

An estimated 92 percent of field corn acreage is tasseling, compared to 64 percent for the same date last year and 82 percent for the five-year average, according to the Minnesota Agricultural Statistics Service Weekly Crop Report for the week ending Sunday, July 28.

Ear development was reported still in the early stages with 12 percent of the corn reaching the milk stage. Corn condition rating good to excellent was 60 percent, compared to 59 percent last week.

Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 38 percent compared to 12 percent last year and 26 percent for the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 60 percent good to excellent compared to 59 percent last week.

Most small grains ripened, but rain and extreme humidity kept harvesting to a minimum last week.

Barley was 5 percent harvested. The five-year average was 6 percent.

Spring wheat harvest progress was 1 percent compared to the five-year average of 3 percent.

The oat harvest is 22 percent complete. The five-year average was 17 percent.

Temperatures are expected to reach the lower 90s Tuesday. There is a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms after midnight.

Highs will be in the lower 90s Wednesday with a chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday night.

Highs will cool down to the upper 70s Thursday and lower 80s Friday. Highs Saturday and Sunday are in the mid 80s with a chance of showers and thunderstorms both days.