(Spirit Lake)– Producers are out scouting their fields today for signs of frost damage after Saturday’s record low temperatures.
The temperature at the KUOO studios bottomed out at 40 degrees Saturday morning. But it was much colder in other parts of the area where temperatures dipped to the low to mid 30’s. In some areas the ground was even said to be white with frost.
That was enough to nip some crops–especially in low-lying areas.
KUOO news and local agronomists are getting calls from producers about frost damage. Paul Kassel, a Crops Specialist with the Iowa State University Extension Service, says most of the reports he’s getting are with soybeans, which have leaves that are turning black. While there will be yield reductions, he says it’s still too early to tell to what extent. But Kassel says it could be as much as a 10 to 15 percent reduction.
Kassel says it’s very critical the warmer weather sticks around awhile to get the already lagging crop caught up, or he says yield losses will be even greater if another frost happens as the crops will remain vulnerable.
Warmer temperatures in the 80’s are expected to last through the end of the week, but another significant cool-down is predicted for the upcoming weekend.
