Crop planting and plant development have been slow during the past week due to cool air and soil temperatures, and generally wet soils (including light snow on May 9-10). According to NDAWN, daily average low temperatures during May 10-11 were in the 20s to low 30s, with the lowest temperature at McHenry at 19 degrees on May 11. Rainfall during May 1-11 ranged from 0.2 inches (Robinson) to 1.6 inches (Dazey, McHenry and Streeter), with the Carrington REC receiving 0.9 inch.

Alfalfa regrowth is at <6-inch height. Winter rye and winter wheat are in the tillering to jointing stages. Seeding progress with small grain in the region is quite variable, possibly averaging 20-25% of acres completed. Barley and spring wheat seeded late April are at 1- to 2-leaf. Corn planting may be 10% complete and mid-April planted corn should be emerging this weekend. Soybean planting has also started. Besides the challenges with timely crop planting this spring, 2019 corn harvest is still a task in fields scattered throughout the region. Prevented plant acres likely will be significant, especially going eastward in this region.

Greg Endres

Extension Cropping Systems Specialist

NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center