As Crop Season Progresses, Watch Ag Alerts for Updates

Producers are encouraged to visit the Plant Diagnostic Information System (PDIS) web site throughout the growing season to keep abreast of possible disease, insect, and weed issues in our area. PDIS is maintained by Kansas State University Extension and has Ag Alert updates for every state in the nation.

To view updates for Richland County, go to http://www.pdis.org/AgAlerts/Overview.aspx the scroll down to find Montana in the box labeled State and Richland in the box labeled county.

Richland County seeding on hold

While the spring planting season got off to a great start, due to weather conditions, we are currently on hold. Much of the valley area has been planted and producers were getting a good start on the dryland areas when rain, cold temperatures, and even a dusting or two of snow moved in.

From data gathered by the weather stations, soil temperatures have dropped into the 40-45 degree range at just about all depths that are measured and soil moisture ratings are rating moisture either at the saturated or adequately wet levels. So far for the month of May, rainfall received by the weather stations has ranged from 7 tenths of an inch at both the Poplar Bridge and Fink road stations to 2 inches at the Girard location.

The crops that have been planted are up and are continuing to look good and grow well. We have experienced lows in the low to middle 30's but, from what I've seen, the temps were not low long enough to produce damage to new seedlings.

If there is some seedling damage being spotted, I would be happy to investigate.

North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) a wealth of information

A new link that was just recently added under the heading "links to other agricultural sites" on this blog will take you to the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) web site. From this site, not only can you receive weather data, but you can also choose various crops grown in the area and get more information about them.

For example, if you were to click on barley, you would find information on the growing degree days accumulated for your area and a tool to predict the growth stage of the plant. Other crops on the site also have disease prediction models, insect infestation predictions and an area where you can create an account and use an irrigation scheduler. To find NDAWN's web site, go to http://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu.

Minimum Soil Temps for Various Crops and Weeds

by Keith Brown, Divide County North Dakota Extension Agent

The minimum soil temperatures for germination of various crops are as follows: 40° for spring wheat, durum, barley, canola, mustard, safflower, field peas and lentils; 45° for oats, chickpeas, and sunflowers; 48° degrees for flax, and 50° degrees for corn, soybeans and dry beans. The optimum soil temperatures for rapid germination and emergence are about 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the minimum temperature for a specific crop.

While it is most desirable to wait until the soil warms to near optimal temperatures to seed, we seldom have that luxury. Most of the crops that we seed in this area are cool-season crops, which on average yield better when seeded early. Plus, as farms have gotten larger, we really need to take advantage of any available planting windows to get everything seeded on a timely basis. This generally means that we need to start seeding when soil temperatures are closer to the minimum than the optimum for germination.

When seeding into soils at or near the minimum germination temperature for the crop, consider the use of basic seed treatment products. Seed planted into cooler soil will take longer to germinate and emerge, which means that it will have greater exposure to soil pathogens. Seed treatment will help provide protection against these pathogens, which can reduce stands due to seed rots and seedling blights. It will also help protect the seed or seedling if we run into adverse conditions following seeding which further delays emergence, such as cool, wet spell or a late spring snow storm.

Weeds that are considered cool-season that emerge with minimum soil temperatures of 35-40° include winter annuals such as prickly lettuce, shepherdspurse, frenchweed and annual weeds such as kochia, wild mustard, wild buckwheat, russian thistle, common lambsquarters, and wild oats,. Early emerging perennial weeds are Canada thistle, quackgrass, and absinth wormwood. Weeds are considered warm-season that emerge with minimum soil temperatures above 45° or higher include wild sunflower, cocklebur, marshelder, ragweeds, biennial wormwood, redroot pigweed, foxtail species, nightshade species and lanceleaf sage.

Planting season rolling along

Planting season in Richland continue is continuing at a good pace. Many producers have taken advantage of the great weather we have had and have planted quite a few acres. Although not always favorable, weather conditions have been such that planting is progressing and we are still receiving timely rains to help get the crop established.

As of today, I have not heard of seedling/emerging problems with the crop and a vast majority of the acres that were seeded early have emerged and are looking good.

Happy Earth Day

I know when most people think of Earth Day, they do not generally think about farmers and ranchers celebrating it. However, since Earth Day is all about conserving resources and promoting good stewardship, there is not a better group to look to when looking for people that should be applauded for their efforts.

So thank you to our farmers and ranchers on this Earth Day. I appreciate all that you do to protect our natural resources and I certainly appreciate the food that you produce for us.

Seeding has started!

SEEDING-
It is still early yet and soil temperatures are still a bit on the cool side, but seeding has started in Richland County. There are still several acres left to plant but we have started.

WEATHER-
Late Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week brought varying amounts of precipitation. Data gathered from the Conservation District and Extension Office weather station project showed that rainfall amounts were varied, especially on Tuesday. Monday only saw ranges from no rain recorded to .03 inches while Tuesday varied from .06 to .4 inches. Wednesday's totals were in the .01 to .09 range.

SOIL TEMP AND MOISTURE-
Although only recorded in two spots at this time the soil temperatures range between 39 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Soil moisture is another story. The measurements taken at the Brorson site, north and west of Sidney have moisture Centibar Readings generally in the 30-60 range throughout the soil profile. The Rosaaen School site, north and west of Lambert, has Centibar Readings in the 0-10 range throughout the soil profile.

As a generalization, Centibar Readings in the 0-10 range mean the soil is pretty well saturated while the 30-60 range indicates that they could use some moisture.