Temperatures dropped to a low of 28 degrees in many areas of the region. Producers are concerned of frost damage to crops like soybeans. Edmore recorded a low of 28 degrees, Webster 28 degrees, and Crary with 31 degrees. Wheat harvest is nearing completion throughout the region. Soybeans are dropping leaves, sunflowers bracts are turning yellow, Canola harvest is underway, dry bean harvest will be harvested in earnest with killing frost in the area. Brown stem rot showing up in soybean fields with heavy soybean on soybean rotations. Canola harvest is to a slow start, but what is being harvested yields are between 2500-2700 pounds. Waterhemp is becoming very noticeable in dry bean fields. An intense rogueing of waterhemp and palmar took place, a week ago, in a field in Benson County. Calls about planting cover crops on PP acres have slowed down. However, Naeem (LREC) will field questions pertaining to soil health and cover crop planting. Recently Naeem hosted an agent field day at the Research Center in Langdon and if you have never seen his trials on saline/sodic soils it would be worth the effort. The Center has a barley/oat trial, on saline/sodic soil that is of great interest. Oats does quite well in those types of areas. The season has left some Prevent Plant fields not covered, Naeem suggesting planting a cheap single-crop like barley or oats or a crop like rye or winter wheat that can overwinter. It will be an interesting year upon completion with weather conditions changing, farmers dealing with large quantities of prevent plant and some producers including an application of soil amendments on saline/sodic areas.

Bill Hodous

Ext Agent/Ramsey County

NDSU Ext County Programs