MINNEAPOLIS — Drought conditions are vastly improving across much of the state.
That's especially true in the metro, where for the first time in at least a year, the latest drought monitor shows no signs of a drought.
The last snowfall and recent rain is certainly helping, just ask fourth generation farmer Aaron Brand.
"It’s definitely a blessing that we got that and it came at a good time too," said Brand, who said his apple trees are already starting to blossom up to two weeks early.
"The first little leaves are coming out," said Brand.
The early blooms, though, can be concerning because in order to flower and fruit, the trees need cold weather to stay dormant. Any shift in the weather pattern now could put them in jeopardy.
"Hopefully Belinda Jensen will keep us warm enough in the extended forecast so that I don't lose any sleep at night," said Brand.
He also farms 60 acres of alfalfa that he was able to plant even a couple weeks early because the ground never froze very deep. But that also leads to concerns about more insects this season since the lackluster frost didn't kill the larvae that burrow deep into the ground.
As for the drought monitor, it shows 13% of the state is not in a drought. That's a far cry from about 1% even last week. And farmers, like Brand, hope the season stays that way.
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