Minnesota farmers are being urged to plan for more drought ahead. The state Ag Department recommends farmers take steps to deal with what could be a new “thirsty normal” in the months to come. Ideas include capturing snowmelt and rain water for irrigation and planting more drought-resistant crop varieties. The latest US Drought Monitor shows the entire state at least abnormally dry. Extreme and severe drought still plagues a good deal of southern and central Minnesota, along with a portion of northwestern Minnesota. New Ulm has received an average of only an inch-and-a-quarter of rain per-month looking back through June.