TRACY, Minn. - Most of Minnesota is still in a drought but recent snow and rain have helped ease conditions.
The latest weekly update from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows just over half of the state is in a drought, down from nearly 67 percent last week. Conditions could improve more as recent snow starts to melt.
Many farmers are still waiting for that. Some who were done planting corn by this time last year haven't even started this year.
Sandy Ludeman, of Tracy, said Thursday that his ground is still covered with snow. But he's not worried yet because if he can get his corn in by the end of May, he'll be OK. New crop varieties make it possible for farmers to switch to corn with shorter growing times if needed.
