GRAND FORKS (AP) - Farmers in northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota could face a difficult spring planting season unless more rain falls in the region, an extension educator said.

Russ Severson, a University of Minnesota extension educator, said Polk County has much less water in its subsoil compared to last year. Severson said farms produced good crops in 2006 despite a relatively dry winter, but that this year, both fall and winter were drier than average.

"We are concerned about this spring," Severson said.

The National Weather Service said 43.4 inches of snowfall has been recorded in the Grand Forks area since November - less than the average of 46.9 inches.