Growing Conditions - 1997 Crops Day Report

Hard red winter wheat was planted into moist soil during the last few days of September 1996 providing excellent conditions for HRWW establishment prior to freeze up. The winter months of 1996/97 were generally cooler than normal and also wetter than normal with large accumulations of snow during the months of November and December. The blizzard of April 1997 will be remembered for it ferocity, causing heavy livestock loses, creating localized flooding and delaying the start of the planting season well into May. Winter injury to HRWW was not observed, even on the most sensitive varieties.

Fertility levels were determined to a 2 foot depth at all research sites prior to seeding. Adequate fertilizer was applied to each crop according to set yield goals. The spring planting season was delayed by wet and cold soils until mid to late May. Localized rain showers along with mild temperatures throughout June provided for excellent small grain growing conditions at the Hettinger site. Most of southwestern North Dakota received little or no rain from mid-April through June causing uneven seedling emergence, poor stands and stressed growing conditions. The Regent site was abandoned for these reasons. A week of hot and dry weather during the last week of June may have adversely affected head formation in young small grain seedlings and caused blossom abortion in the canola trial.

Weed control was accomplished using herbicides with a pickup mounted sprayer applying 10 gallons of solution per acre. Herbicide varied according to crop and target weed.

Weather conditions during the summer months of July and August were warm and dry with below normal precipitation and near normal temperatures. Humidity brought up from the south tended to be high despite the lack of precipitation. There were no 100 degree temperatures recorded.

Warm season crop performance was outstanding with large sunflower heads, tall corn with long full ears and near bumper yields.

Insects were plentiful with grasshoppers continuing to cause problems. Their numbers appear to be fewer then from last year. We have seen a buildup of European corn borers during the past few years with a large infestation this year causing reduced corn yields at the New Leipzig site and almost a complete decimation of the proso millet trial at Hettinger.

Small grain foliar diseases were initially high but declined as the crops progressed under dry weather conditions.

WEATHER DATA SUMMARY - HETTINGER

Precipitation

Precipitation (inches)	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97	42 year average
Sept. - Dec.	7.80	2.35	6.95	3.26
Jan. - March	1.37	1.82	0.55	1.28
April	1.18	1.02	3.68	1.65
May	6.07	5.20	1.16	2.72
June	2.88	2.45	3.79	3.43
July	2.21	0.86	1.16	2.03
August	3.71	0.53	0.73	1.70
Total	25.22	14.23	18.02	16.07

Air Temperature

Average Temperature (F)	1994	1995	1996	1997	42 year average
April	42.7	37.8	38.7	34.8	42.6
May	56.5	49.8	48.8	52.0	54.3
June	63.8	63.0	65.5	65.9	63.8
July	67.1	68.1	67.2	68.0	69.8
August	68.1	71.6	70.4	68.0	68.6
September	60.4	57.4	56.8	60.1	57.1

 

Growing Degree Units - Corn

Growing Degree	1994	1995	1996	1997	32 Year
Units (50-86)					Average
May	321	186	148	226	335
June	414	412	457	480	425
July	484	559	550	574	498
August	519	644	591	543	535
September	377	348	276	412	389
Total	2115	2149	2022	2235	2182

 

Frost Dates

	28 F	32 F	Normal 32 F
Date of last frost	May 14	May 20	May 18
Date of first frost	Sept 20	Sept 20	Sept 20
Frost free days	129	123	125