Indications of an early spring were plentiful -- below average seasonal snowfall and a very nice March had set the scene. But Mother Nature’s delay came in April with very cold temperatures and no rain, keeping the drills out of the fields. There was very little concern this year about planting crops too early for crop insurance.

The opposite happened in May. May gradually warmed up, got hot and produced a few spotty rain showers. This was a real blessing as crop planting went into high gear. Many different crops needed to be planted in a short time frame. Final planting dates for crop insurance became the concern for this year.

There are many deadline dates for North Dakota farmers and seedsmen. These can include early ordering for discounts of crop inputs and seed, the wide array of coverages under crop insurance, and the field inspection report for seed fields.

June 15^th is the State Seed Department (SSD) deadline to send in field inspection reports for early season seed fields. Late applications will have late fees added to them.

Application can be made using newly revised forms (obtained from your local county Extension county agent or by calling the SSD at 701-231-5400) or online at www.ndseed.com.

Field Inspection Application Form, Page 1

Field Inspection Application Form, Page 2

A few key highlights to be aware of when filling out the application:

1. Fee Schedule on the back page has eight important line items at the bottom of the page.

• Line item #3.  Field boundaries can include a ditch, fence, 6 foot wide gap of mowing or tilling between crops.
• Line item #4.  Bulk certificate or tag information is for the columns of crop variety, class planted and lot number(s) planted.

2. Durum fields have a special requirement regarding the previous crop column on the front page of the application. A previous two years’ crop history with no wheat must be included in the box.

3. Finally, make sure your field is ready for inspection. Have it sprayed to take care of noxious weeds and have isolation strips in place.

Have a good growing season, and THINK SAFETY AT ALL TIMES!

Dave Copenhaver
David.Copenhaver@ndsu.edu
Foundation Seedstocks Research Spec.