How are crops doing with the rain and heat this summer?

DES LACS, N.D. (KMOT) - Farmers said August is a strange month for crops, weather-wise.

North Dakota had a cool start to the summer, making that both a disadvantage and an advantage for some crops. Experts with the National Drought System said North Dakota had 300 percent more rain than the average 13-20 inches.

This year, farmer Amanda Kopp with Hilltop Farm grew spring wheat, canola and soybean.

”We would like to be combining about now, we did get in earlier this spring than we had in the last couple years,” said Kopp.

The rain has provided moisture, but Kopp said crops are not growing as quickly as last year because of the early cool temperatures. She said wheat is one of them to be behind.

”We need heat this time of year to get our crop to ripen, get it ready to harvest,” said Kopp.

To combat this, Kopp said they can bring their sprayer out to dry the wheat, but they have to think if it is worth doing that with crop prices being down.

”It’s another expense to do that,” said Kopp.

She said other crops like soybeans are looking good.

”They’re really enjoying this weather, this is their time of weather with the heat, the humidity, the rain,” said Kopp.

Right now, it is a waiting game for her and many farmers.

”Guys are getting antsy to get in the field, I know we are because the weather is just not being cooperative,” said Kopp.

She has been a farmer on her family farm since 2017 but grew up learning almost everything about agriculture. Like many others, Kopp said she is hoping for a mild winter as snow does not do a lot when it comes to moisture for spring.