FARGO — North Dakota’s recent stretch of erratic weather has some farmers wondering whether the cool temperatures and heavy rain will hurt spring planting.

The North Dakota Corn Growers Association says corn and soybeans are particularly sensitive to soil temperature and don’t thrive in cooler conditions.

After a stretch of 90-degree days left soil dry, many farmers were hoping for rain. But now they’re being urged to keep an eye out for a crust that can form after heavy precipitation.

“When it dries up, there will be, like, an inch, half-inch layer of crust,” said Ben Bakko, secretary and treasurer of the ND Corn Growers. “Some guys will go out there and do some very, very light tillage to try to break it up, to allow their crop to come up. So that’s something to monitor for sure.”

Bakko also reminds farmers to consider putting in crop hail insurance to protect against extreme weather-related yield losses.

MORTON COUNTY, N.D. — A motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Morton County, the North Dakota Highway Patrol reported Thursday, May 15.

According to a release from the Highway Patrol, a 52-year-old Carson, North Dakota, man was traveling south on Highway 49 between Glen Ullin and Elgin at approximately 5 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on Tuesday. The motorcyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, failed to negotiate a curve and went off the roadway. He died at the scene, the release said.

The Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash, the release said. The Morton County Sheriff’s Office, Glen Ullin Fire and Rescue, and Glen Ullin Ambulance also responded to the crash.

Glen Ullin is 54 miles west of Bismarck.

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