U of M Extension educator Claire LaCanne in a Rice County lodged corn field By Dave Nicolai, Extension educator – crops, Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist, and Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist On September 20, fast-moving storms moved across southern Minnesota, resulting in damage to crops and property. Claire LaCanne, agriculture Extension educator in Rice and Steele counties provided the following report of recent storm damage in these counties: The National Weather Service (NWS) reports ten tornadoes struck parts of southeastern Minnesota on September 20 and that preliminary information indicates Rice County was hit by six tornadoes. The storm zone included Waseca, Owatonna, Faribault, Northfield, and Cannon Falls, plus surrounding towns. Soybeans are leaning, but look okay in general. Other soybeans are lodged but holding onto their pods. Sweet corn in affected areas was completely lodged and lying on the ground. Field corn in the most severely impacted ar