MINNESOTA, USA — All this rain means the drought is drastically improving across the state.
Last month, some parts of Minnesota were down a foot of rain, but now it's helping ready the soil ahead of next spring's planting season.
But as a farmer once said - what is his salvation, can also be his greatest struggle as this recent rain is now putting a stop to the crucial harvesting season.
"It's cold and it's wet," said fourth-generation farmer Aaron Brand. "But the rain is definitely welcome."
The summer was particularly dry - parts of Minnesota reached the exceptional drought stage for just the second time in 23 years. But the rain can bring a different batch of problems for Brand Farms.
"We can't have the activities on because who wants to go out and play on a pile of straw in the rain," said Brand who offers hayrides, food trucks and photo opportunities at his farm.
Besides impacting family fun, the deluge is putting a damper on his apples too - causing some to crack and spoil.
"So then the trees absorbed that extra water, put it in the fruit and then they split open because the skin physically can't stretch any farther," said Brand. "The best way for us to control what we call splitting is getting them off the trees earlier."
Meanwhile, pumpkins are plenty but plan on the soggy stems to break easily.
The high winds also knocked over the drought-stricken corn stalks that Brand had yet to start harvesting. The Department of Agriculture reports that only 40% of the corn across the state is in good or excellent condition, the lowest in the last five years.
"This is the wettest fall that I've experienced in two years," said Brand. "You just take it with a grain of salt."
The rain may be setting up the soil for a successful spring planting season, but Brand is first looking forward to when the snow flies to finally catch a break.
"Things then tame down," he said laughing. "I don't want to use that 's' word too much because we all dread it, but it'll eventually come."
Brand did manage to finish harvesting the soybeans, but doesn't expect to get into the corn fields until late next week.
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