Rainfall in southwest North Dakota continues to be highly variable for the week with NDAWN reporting amounts from 0.19 inches (34% of normal) for Beach to 0.52 inches (93% of normal) at Mandan. Producers have reported from nearly an inch at New England to no rain in parts of Bowman and Golden Valley Counties. Hay fields and pasture lands reflect these below normal precipitation patterns with forage growing and low levels. Andrea Bowman, Extension Agent, Bowman County and Lane Hall, Extension Agent, Slope County report alfalfa too short to cut but beginning to bud and flower. Alfalfa growth was greater in areas with more precipitation during the winter and early spring.  For example, Jorey Dahners, Extension Agent in Grant County, reported that alfalfa has grown to about 16 to 18 inches.

Nearly all of the corn and 75% of the sunflower has been planted in the area. Rainfall will be needed to get seed in some of the fields to germinate and emerge though where adequate amounts of previous crop residue is present in many no-till systems ample moisture is present for germination. Corn seeded during the May 1 – 8 period of time has emerged. Winter wheat in some fields is beginning to head. Early seeded spring wheat has advanced to five to six leaves. Field pea and lentils are about 5 nodes.

In some of the later planted fields now is a good time to scout to determine reasons for bare areas in the field. Producers are finding wireworms and root rots prevalent though some army cutworms were feeding earlier in some of these patches. Feeding from army cutworm has ceased and treatment time for this pest has past. Some winter wheat and spring wheat fields north of South Heart and south of Richardton have some serious issues with WSMV. It appears in the winter wheat that many of these fields were seeded early; well in advance of the recommended planting window.

Roger Ashley

Area Extension Specialist/Cropping Systems

Roger.Ashley@ndsu.edu

According to NDAWN (North Dakota Ag Weather Network) data, the region received 0.03 inches (Oakes) to 1.2 inches (Jamestown) during the past week (May 6 to 23). The recent rain was welcome and currently soil moisture is generally adequate throughout the region.

Winter wheat is in the flag leaf stage or beyond – heading will soon occur! Spring wheat and barley seeded during the first half of April is in the tillering stage (3- to 5-leaf). Corn planted during the last week of April is in the 2-collar stage.  Soybean acres are planted and fields planted during the first week of May have plants in the unifoliate stage. Dry bean and sunflower planting continues and should easily be completed by the end of May with cooperative weather. Post-emergence application of herbicides (plus tank mixtures of fungicides and insecticides) in small grain is in progress. Weed populations generally are abundant this season, so first application of post-emergence herbicides in early planted corn is recommended to maintain yield potential. 

In-furrow liquid fertilizer for dry bean

NDSU does not recommend placing fertilizer in-furrow during dry bean seed planting. The concern is two-fold: seed injury and lack of yield response with starter fertilizer. Research at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center during 2009-11 indicates an average pinto bean plant loss of 14% with 4-6 gallons/acre of in-furrow applied 10-34-0 compared to the untreated check. However, averaged across the 3 years of the study, seed yield with the in-furrow 10-34-0 was 24.4 cwt/acre (statistically higher one of three years) compared to 22.3 cwt/acre with the untreated check. Phosphorus levels during the three years of the study ranged from 7-10 ppm (low to medium). Average yield with a 2x0-inch band of starter 10-34-0 in the study was similar (24.0 cwt/acre) to yield with the in-furrow fertilizer placement. The study continues in 2012.

Greg Endres

Area Extension Specialist/Cropping Systems

NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center

gregory.endres@ndsu.edu

According to NDAWN (North Dakota Ag Weather Network) data, the region received 0.2 inches or less of rain during the past week (May 9 to 15). Rain would be desirable for emerged crops and to aid emergence of recently planted crops.

Winter wheat is in the two-node stage or beyond – heading will soon occur! Wheat streak mosaic virus has been found in winter wheat in the region. Spring wheat and barley seeded during the first half of April is in the tillering stage (3- to 5-leaf). Warm temperatures this week combined with dry soils at the 1- to 2-inch depth may limit tiller development and size of main stem heads. Nearly all corn is planted and most soybean acres will be planted by the end of this week. Corn planted in April was slow emerging. For example, corn planted at the Carrington Research Extension Center on April 23 was emerging early this week (21+ days between planting and emergence). Soybeans planted before May 1 have emerged. Dry bean planting also has recently started. Besides crop planting, common farm activities are post-emergence application of herbicides in small grain and post-plant rolling of soybean ground.

 Greg Endres

Area Extension Specialist/Cropping Systems

NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center

gregory.endres@ndsu.edu

According to NDAWN (North Dakota Ag Weather Network) data, the region received 0.1 (Oakes) to 1.0 inches (Tappen) of rain during the past week (May 2 to 8). Hail occurred during the mid-part of last week in counties including Dickey, Logan, McIntosh and Stutsman – defoliation occurred to emerged crops but yield loss is unlikely. The region has sufficient soil moisture. A string of sunny, warm days are desirable to continue row crop planting. Corn planted on April 20 is emerging or newly emerged, based on growing degree day (GDD) units compiled to May 8 (about 120 GDD units required for corn emergence).

Seeding of spring small grain is complete and emerged stands generally look very good. Barley and spring wheat planted before Easter are tillering and herbicide/fungicide application is in progress. Corn planting should be completed this week and soybean planting is underway for most farmers. Weeds are doing as well as our emerged crops, including recently emerged foxtail and pigweed. 

Response of spring wheat to early-season fungicides

Spring wheat seed yield with labeled application of foliar fungicides during the tillering stage, when averaged across 12 trials conducted during 2008-10 at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC), increased 2.5 bushels/acre (4.5%) compared to untreated checks.

Soybean response to seed inoculation

Averaged over 13 trials conducted from 1999 through 2011 at the CREC, soybean seed yield with inoculated seed increased by 2.2 bushels/acre (5.5%) compared to the untreated check. Also, yield with inoculated seed had an average increase of slightly under one bushel/acre (2%) compared to supplemental nitrogen fertilizer applied to the soil and without seed inoculation.

The trials were conducted on generally low N soils (e.g. 50 lb/acre or less) and the majority of trial sites did not have a history of soybean production.

Greg Endres
Area Extension Specialist/Cropping Systems
NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center
gregory.endres@ndsu.edu

Rainfall beginning last Thursday night continued over much of southwestern North Dakota through the weekend. Rainfall totals for the weekend ranged from about 0.5 inches to nearly three inches in the Marmarth area. NDAWN location totals for southwest ND this past week ranged from 0.54 inches at Watford City to 1.62 inches at Hettinger. This rainfall pushed all NDAWN reporting locations except at Beach to above average levels for April in southwest ND. Air temperatures have been above normal, so accumulated growing degree days for wheat and barley are 25% higher than normal.

Precipitation during the weekend stopped field activities until Tuesday. Herbicide and fungicide applications are being made to winter wheat in the area. Corn planting began in far western ND last Thursday and has resumed in areas where soils have sufficiently dried to support equipment. Early seeded spring wheat is at 1 ½ to 3 leaf stage of development with a few fields yet to be seeded. Russian thistle in one field scouted was about 1 ½ inches tall and field pennycrest was in bloom. Alfalfa is about 5 to 8 inches tall.

Roger Ashley

Area Extension Specialist/Cropping Systems

Roger.Ashley@ndsu.edu

Field work in the Mondak region has been underway since the middle of March due to the lack of snowfall and above normal temperatures. Many were waiting because they felt it was too early and worried about frost injury with some of the crops.  Producers in the region got in several acres during the past week that ended with much needed rain.  The region received anywhere from an half inch of rain to a little over an inch of moisture.  We hit 91 degree on Thursday, April 24, which is a new record.  With the cool temperatures the week before, very little damage was noticed to crops or alfalfa. 

Durum, spring wheat and barley acres planted are at about 50% complete.  Since seeding has been taking place for a while now, some producers in E. MT will be spraying their spring wheat crop soon.  Peas and lentil acres planted are also around that 50% completion.  Winter wheat stands look very good with only a couple fields having poor stands due to real late or early seeding.  In the Yellowstone Valley, corn and sugarbeet acres are almost all seeded.  Before our weekend moisture, many fields were being irrigated to get crops to germinated because of our dry conditions.  Most of the seeding will be done in the region with another week of ideal planting conditions.

Chet Hill

Area Ag Diversification Specialist

Williston Research Extension Center

Chet.hill@ndsu.edu

The geographic area covered by this report includes a northern border of Sheridan County to Eddy County southward to Sargent County and west to Emmons County.

Alfalfa and winter wheat appear to have tolerated well the cold temperatures from earlier in the month. Alfalfa at the Carrington Research Extension Center has good regrowth and plants are up to 4-inches in height. Area winter wheat is in the tillering to jointing stages. The majority of the region’s spring wheat and barley acres are seeded  (probably around 75% of acres targeted for small grain). Small grain seeded before Easter is emerging to 2-leaf stage. Corn planting currently is in progress south of Highway 200. If weather is cooperative, most corn should be in the ground by May 1. Soybean planting will commence as soon as corn planting is complete.

Greg Endres

Area Extension Specialist/Cropping Systems

NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center

gregory.endres@ndsu.edu

Field work has been underway since the third week in March for much of the area due to below average snow fall and above average temperatures through the winter. For this past week over much of the area above normal precipitation (123%) was received. Beach, Mandan and Mott were the exceptions receiving 57%, 85%, and 75% of normal respectively. The far western NDAWN sites reported the lowest low temperatures on April 18 while NDAWN sites east of Dunn Center reported their lowest lows on April 22. The lowest temperature recorded was 25^oF at Dunn Center and Beach. New record high temperatures of 89^oF to 90^oF for April 24 were recorded. Much of the spring wheat and barley has been planted. Spring wheat that was seeded about March 27 in the Mott-Regent area is at the 2 leaf stage. Spring wheat that was seeded a couple of weeks ago at the Dickinson Research Extension Center has emerged and has a half leaf while barley has about ¾ to 1 full leaf. The most advanced winter wheat I found in the Dickinson area is tillering. Corn planting is underway in the Beulah - Center area but producers further west are delaying sowing corn until late this week or early next. Most of the field peas and lentils were seeded the second and third weeks of April but emergence has not been noted yet. Some flax has been seeded too. Alfalfa has grown to about two to three inches in height.

Pests problems reported to date includes three confirmed wheat streak mosaic virus cases, one from the Belfield area and two in the eastern part of Stark County. If you suspect WSMV or other virus diseases in wheat and barley I encourage growers and consultants to forward samples to the NDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab. Turnaround time once it gets to the lab is 48 hours. It may save misdiagnosis of the problem and provide an opportunity to apply the proper solution. Also during the last two weeks army cutworms have been found in the Regent and Reeder areas. Please refer to Jan Knodel’s article on cutworms in this Crop and Pest Report.

Roger Ashley

Area Extension Specialist/Cropping Systems

Roger.Ashley@ndsu.edu

Rainfall in southwest North Dakota has been highly variable the past two weeks.  NDAWN indicated sites at Beach, Dickinson, Dunn Center, and Watford City all received less than a half inch of rain with Beach receiving the least in the region at 0.05 inches.  Bowman, Mandan, and Mott sites are all over an inch of precipitation with Mandan reporting 1.76 inches and Mott 1.57 inches for the two week period. 

                Winter wheat and canola harvest is nearly complete with some spring wheat fields beginning to be harvested.  Barley harvest is about half done. Second cutting of alfalfa hay is well underway. With spring wheat seeding occurring well into June we have received questions as to when this wheat will mature and be ready for harvest.  I can understand why the questions as the previous week, I saw some spring wheat fields that were just beginning to head. A wet spring caused may producers to delay seeding beyond the normal planting window for spring wheat. Growers will need to keep in mind the following. Standard maturity varieties require about 2400 growing degree days (GDD) from emergence to kernel hard stage (maturity) while early maturity varieties require about 2250 GDD. Both early and standard maturity varieties in the watery ripe stage need 755 GDD to reach kernel hard stage. As summer wanes the accumulation rate of GDD slows as temperatures fall. At Beach during the last half of August in a “normal” year GDDs accumulate at the rate of 30 to 35 GDDs per day.  From September 1 – 15 GDDs accumulated at the rate of 25 to 30 GDDs per day and the last half of September they accumulate at the rate of 20 to 25 GDD’s per day. 

So the question is when will wheat in the watery ripe stage mature?  The grower can take the days for the particular stage of development, in this case 755 GDDs needed for maturity and divide this number by the expected rate of accumulation for GDD, let us say 30.   The crop will need about 25 days.  If today is August 19 then by September 13 under normal temperature conditions the crop should mature.  The crop will require additional time in the field for grain to dry prior to harvest and storage. The time required to dry down is highly dependent upon humidity and temperature conditions at this point.

Additional information on growth staging can be found in “Use of Growing-Degree Days to Determine Spring Wheat Growth Stages,” EB37  by Baur, Fanning, Enz, and Eberlein. 

                This has been a year in southwest North Dakota where cover crops have been useful “tool” in soaking up the excess water.  A tour that maybe of interest to producers and others interested in agriculture is the Cover Crops, Coffee & Carmel Rolls tour Wednesday, August 31 at 8 am on the Ernie Holzemer Farm in Amidon.  This is a great opportunity to see a variety of cover crop options grown on clay soils and fine sands before heading out into the field for harvest.  You can also follow the progress of this cover crop demonstration seeded July 22 on the SW ND Agronomy Notes website  http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/swagronomynotes.

Roger Ashley - Area Extension Specialist/Cropping Systems

roger.ashley@ndsu.edu

Wheat Streak Mosaic Threat for Early Planted Winter Wheat:

We expect winter wheat planting to be much greater this season especially if the drier weather continues.  We are optimistic since, for the first time in many months, the NOAA forecast for the month of September is for average temperatures and average precipitation.  Our concern with wheat streak mosaic virus is that producers will try to plant in late August which will put them at a much higher risk for wheat streak mosaic virus outbreaks.  The table below reviews risk factors for wheat streak mosaic virus.  For more information on wsmv please see: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/smgrains/pp646.pdf. 

Soybean Aphids on the Rise:

Soybeans are in the beginning pod (R3) to beginning seed (R5) stage.  Soybean aphids are prevalent in the area and have been found in all scouted fields.  There was an average of 193 aphids per plant with about half the fields over the economic threshold of 250 aphids/plant.   When 250 aphids per plant are found on a total of 20 soybean plants (4 areas of the field, 5 plants per area), an insecticide application is recommended.  Early pod (R3) is a good insecticide timing for aphid control with a range of early bloom (R1) to beginning seed (R5).  Once soybeans are in the full seed stage (R6) it is generally not economical to spray for aphids.   

Banded Sunflower Moths a Problem in some Fields:

Sunflowers in the area are in the R4 to R6 stage.  We have observed large numbers of banded sunflower moth larvae (more than 20/head) in some fields in the area.  Most fields are too late to get good control of this pest with an insecticide application.  Early flowering (R5.1) is the best timing for managing banded sunflower moth and several other key insect pests of sunflower.  It is generally not possible to control all insect pests in sunflower with one insecticide application.

Trap Catches:

Daniel Waldstein - Crop Protection Specialist

North Central Research Ext. Center, Minot