Harvest- Pulse and small grain harvest is progressing rather smoothly. Most of the winter wheat has been harvested as well a a majority of the barley. Spring wheat is well underway, and the pulse crops are just about all out of the fields at this point. The hay harvest continues to progress nicely as well. Most of the alfalfa second cutting is up and out of the field and many producers should get a third cutting this year, if they haven't already.
Weather- Hot, dry conditions continue to be the norm. Last week's Friday shower only stalled harvest for the day as combines and swathers have been busy since.
Pests- There is a great article regarding grasshoppers and their management on the Montana Ag Alerts website (http://www.mtagalert.org/). Also included on the site are articles regarding winter wheat stripe rust, pesticide training opportunities in Eastern Montana, and much more. If you haven't visited the site, I would recommend adding it to your bookmarks and checking it periodically.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Hail Damage
Here are a few pictures of some fields around Savage and the damage they sustained after the strong winds/hail storm on July 19.
Harvest update for the week of August 14
Weather- For some reason, Friday's have not been good for those who are trying to get crops harvested. Late Thursday night and early Friday morning brought showers to the area, nothing heavy or damaging, but just enough to keep the combines out of the field for another day. Up until Friday, however, the weather was ideal.
Harvest- Much of the winter wheat crop and a good portion of the barley that is fit to run has been harvested. I still have not received many reports regarding yield or quality but did talk to one irrigated barley producer in the Yellowstone valley and his assumption was that his barley was yielding around 90-100 bu./acre.
Other crops- Spring wheat is progressing nicely and some of it has probably been harvested but most of it is not quite ready yet. In another week or two most of the spring wheat will be ready. The sugarbeets that got planted and did not get hailed out or flooded out are progressing quite nicely as well. A few planes have been spotted flying on what I am assuming is fungicide sprays.
Harvest- Much of the winter wheat crop and a good portion of the barley that is fit to run has been harvested. I still have not received many reports regarding yield or quality but did talk to one irrigated barley producer in the Yellowstone valley and his assumption was that his barley was yielding around 90-100 bu./acre.
Other crops- Spring wheat is progressing nicely and some of it has probably been harvested but most of it is not quite ready yet. In another week or two most of the spring wheat will be ready. The sugarbeets that got planted and did not get hailed out or flooded out are progressing quite nicely as well. A few planes have been spotted flying on what I am assuming is fungicide sprays.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Wheat, pulse harvest in full swing
Weather- Storms brought rain much of the day last Friday with accumulations of anywhere from a couple of tenths to an inch around the county. The end of last week and beginning of this week, however, saw temperatures in the 70's and 80's and drier weather. Now that the end of the week is here, we are experiencing some more, gentler showers than last Friday but I do not think we will get much accumulation from them.
Harvest- While last week's rain event put a temporary hault on harvest, it didn't last long. Combines were back in the fields as of Monday. Much of the winter wheat crop has been taken off, some barley, some spring wheat, a good portion of the pulse crops, and there is quite a bit of hay down that will be baled this weekend providing we do not get any additional moisture.
Harvest- While last week's rain event put a temporary hault on harvest, it didn't last long. Combines were back in the fields as of Monday. Much of the winter wheat crop has been taken off, some barley, some spring wheat, a good portion of the pulse crops, and there is quite a bit of hay down that will be baled this weekend providing we do not get any additional moisture.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Harvest has started, but now delayed
Weather- Most of the county dodged the bullet that landed squarely on parts of Lambert and Savage last weekend. Strong storms swept through the area Friday (7-29) night and brought hail and damaging winds with them. I have not personally seen the damage in the Lambert area but while driving through Savage on Sunday (7-31) I did notice fields of corn and sugarbeets where leaves were completely stripped off of the plants. Another round of storms has shown up today (8-5) but so far has not been damaging.
Harvest- Winter wheat harvest has begun and some of our pulse crop acres are starting to come off as well. We are still in the very early stages of both, however, so no reports as to yield yet. Today's showers have delayed both a bit, however. Spring wheat and barley should start to come off in the next couple of weeks.
Harvest- Winter wheat harvest has begun and some of our pulse crop acres are starting to come off as well. We are still in the very early stages of both, however, so no reports as to yield yet. Today's showers have delayed both a bit, however. Spring wheat and barley should start to come off in the next couple of weeks.
Pests- Grasshoppers are now out in full force but there really is not much that can be done regarding them at this point. Wetter weather tends to suppress them some and allows for grass to grow and hide some of the damaging effects of the insect. I have started a Pale Western Cutworm, Army Cutworm, and Dingy Cutworm monitoring program. My first collection will begin next week and will give us a good idea about what kind of numbers we will potentially be dealing with for next year's crop.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Crops continue to progress
Weather-While there was quite a storm that covered most of Richland County on Friday, July 22, one farmer mentioned that the rain that it brought, for the most part, proved to be more beneficial than the hail and winds were detrimental. Some areas of the county, however, did receive more hail than others, so farmers in those areas do not necessarily share the same sentiments.
Small Grains-Wheat, barley, oats, and durum continue to make substantial strides toward maturity. Most of these grains have headed out and a substantial amount of them are starting to turn.
Sugarbeets-At a recent field day event, it was mentioned that more than 1,000 acres either did not get planted or was planted and then got drowned out. The acreage that remains, however, is progressing nicely.
Forages- Much of the irrigated alfalfa is ready for or has been cut for the second time. Most of the dryland acreage has been cut for the first time as well.
Pests- Still no major issues on the pest front. There have been quite a few planes flying this week applying fungicides over sugarbeet fields, however. Some cercospera and rhizoctonia has been spotted but not at damaging levels.
Small Grains-Wheat, barley, oats, and durum continue to make substantial strides toward maturity. Most of these grains have headed out and a substantial amount of them are starting to turn.
Sugarbeets-At a recent field day event, it was mentioned that more than 1,000 acres either did not get planted or was planted and then got drowned out. The acreage that remains, however, is progressing nicely.
Forages- Much of the irrigated alfalfa is ready for or has been cut for the second time. Most of the dryland acreage has been cut for the first time as well.
Pests- Still no major issues on the pest front. There have been quite a few planes flying this week applying fungicides over sugarbeet fields, however. Some cercospera and rhizoctonia has been spotted but not at damaging levels.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Some areas drying out too fast
Weather- In a classic case of "be careful what you wish for" we are now approaching the other end of the spectrum in reference to available moisture. Many fields are drying out and our producers who use irrigation have been pouring the water to their crops. The forecast, however, does have chances for showers for the rest of the week.
Crops-This warm, dry weather has really allowed for crops to progress through their various growth stages quite rapidly. Most all of the cereal grain crops have-or-are headed out and are looking very good. Corn is coming along well also and just about all of the first cutting hay crop has been harvested. Some producer's have started their second cutting or will be starting very soon. Sugarbeets have really taken off as well as the safflower and our pulse crops.
Pests- There are still some weed escapes out there as the early wet weather followed by dry days with too much wind have not really allowed for many days suitable to spray. Some reports of ascochyta and/or anthracnose have come in from pulse producers but fortunately there were not many and I have not seen or heard of head scab yet. I will be conducting another cutworm moth sampling session in August to determine levels/presence of these pests.
Nutrient Management-The spring rains have ultimately lead to leaching of some of the nutrients put down earlier in the year. This is showing up in many of our crops. For a guide on conducting tissue samples, visit http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/cpr/soils/plant-tissue-testing-interpretation-7-7-11
Crops-This warm, dry weather has really allowed for crops to progress through their various growth stages quite rapidly. Most all of the cereal grain crops have-or-are headed out and are looking very good. Corn is coming along well also and just about all of the first cutting hay crop has been harvested. Some producer's have started their second cutting or will be starting very soon. Sugarbeets have really taken off as well as the safflower and our pulse crops.
Pests- There are still some weed escapes out there as the early wet weather followed by dry days with too much wind have not really allowed for many days suitable to spray. Some reports of ascochyta and/or anthracnose have come in from pulse producers but fortunately there were not many and I have not seen or heard of head scab yet. I will be conducting another cutworm moth sampling session in August to determine levels/presence of these pests.
Nutrient Management-The spring rains have ultimately lead to leaching of some of the nutrients put down earlier in the year. This is showing up in many of our crops. For a guide on conducting tissue samples, visit http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/cpr/soils/plant-tissue-testing-interpretation-7-7-11
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