South-Central/Southeast ND (6/04/20)
The region continues to have cooperative weather for crop planting and development of established crops. According to NDAWN, rainfall during May ranged from 0.7 inch (Robinson) to 2.2 inches (Jamestown), with the Carrington REC receiving 1.2 inches. Topsoil generally is dry but subsoil moisture is abundant. Wet spots in many fields can still easily be observed.
Last-season corn continues to be harvested, as well as, harvest of 2019 soybean was observed last week. Alfalfa harvest is beginning in southern ND. Alfalfa in the Carrington area is <20 inches tall; flower buds not yet present. Winter rye is in the jointing to heading stages, depending on last fall’s seeding dates. Spring-seeded crop stands generally are adequate. Barley and spring wheat seeded late April are at the 5-leaf to early jointing stages. Late-April planted corn has 3 leaves and soybean is in the first trifoliate (V1) stage. Soybean planting generally will be completed this week, while dry bean and sunflower planting continues.
As with crops, growth of weeds continues to accelerate. Hopefully, PRE herbicides are being applied for our row crops and that rain will occur as forecasted this weekend to activate the herbicides for control of germinating weeds. POST herbicide applications will need to be timely. Also, leafy spurge is flowering, which is a timely stage for application of numerous herbicides (see pages 78-79 in ND Weed Control Guide).
Extension Cropping Systems Specialist
NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center
