Quarter of spring wheat and over half of sugarbeet acreages planted

(Farm and Ranch Guide) – Light rain showers on the weekend of April 18-19 put a temporary halt to planting operations in North Dakota, but prior to that farmers made good seeding progress, according to the weekly report issued by USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service.

Before the rains came, temperatures for the week ending April 19, averaged six to 10 degrees above normal. Reports indicated that, on average, field work generally began on April 15. The NASS report said there were 5.5 days suitable for field work.

Most areas of the state received less than one-half inch of rain, which did little to improve soil moisture conditions. Topsoil moisture in the state was rated 4 percent very short, 33 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus, while subsoil moisture conditions were 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Crop report

Winter wheat conditions in the state were rated at 1 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 38 percent fair, 48 percent good and 4 percent excellent, with 1 percent of the crop already jointed.

As far as planting progress, durum wheat was 4 percent planted compared to 0 percent at this time last year and 5 percent on the five-year average (2010-14). Spring wheat was 22 percent planted, well ahead of 1 percent last year and 9 percent on average. Thirteen percent of the barley and oats were planted, versus 0 percent last year and 6 and 7 percent, respectively, on average.

Dry edible pea plantings were 6 percent complete, compared to 1 percent last year and 5 percent on average and potato planting was 2 percent complete, ahead of the 0 percent at this time last year, but behind the 7 percent on average. Sugarbeet planting reached 53 percent complete, well ahead of last year’s 0 percent and the average pace at this time of 12 percent.

Most of the small grains have been planted in Sargent County, according to Extension county agent Melissa Blawat, and a lot of those acres emerged over the weekend. There is enough soil moisture to get the crops germinated and up, but overall it’s pretty dry and producers are looking for rain. Rainfall over the weekend of April 18-19 generally was less than a quarter of an inch.

“The cooler weather that followed the rain has slowed down farming operations,” Blawat said, “but few have started seeding corn and soybeans.”

Western North Dakota

Planting in the western part of the state is well underway, but the need for some moisture is something that is definitely on the minds of producers.

“I think everyone is planting now this past week, but the soil moisture is marginal so we really need the rain,” said Jerry Bergman, director of Williston Research Extension Center. “I’ve seen people planting sugarbeets today in the Yellowstone River Valley and a lot of small grains are being planted for sure. The most notable thing is the need for some moisture to get all the crops started.”

While everyone is getting planted out west, activity up near Minot hasn’t really started up yet.

“There hasn’t been a lot to be honest with you,” said Eric Eriksmoen, research agronomist at the North Central Research Extension Center in Minot. “There are a little bit of farmers doing a little bit of tillage, but I haven’t seen a lot of planting taking place.”

Eriksmoen said there is some activity in the fields a bit more south.

“I was down in the Wilton area at the end of last week and there’s a fair amount of planting taking place in those areas,” he said. “We’re just cold and wet, but probably more wet than cold.”

Further south in south central North Dakota it is estimated that farmers are about 20-30 percent complete with their small grain planting, according to Crystal Schaunaman, McIntosh County Extension agent.

“I’m not 100 percent sure, but they’ve been going pretty heavy the last couple weeks,” she said. “There’s a lot of fertilizer application happening.”

Livestock conditions

The calving season was 69 percent complete, according to the NASS report. Forty-five percent of the producers reported average death losses and 55 percent light death losses in their calving program. Cattle and calf conditions were rated at 1 percent poor, 10 percent fair, 72 percent good and 17 percent excellent.

The calving season is getting close to being wrapped up in Sargent County, Blawat noted, with most producers reporting good results.

Sheep and lamb conditions were said to be 1 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 71 percent good and 14 percent excellent. Lambing and shearing were 83 percent complete and 54 percent of the shepherds reported average death losses while lambing and 46 percent said they experienced lighter than normal losses.

Hay and roughage supplies were rated at 4 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were said to be 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus.

Dry soil conditions and cool temperatures will delay the start of grazing on pastures in Sargent County, therefore causing the cattle to be on feed longer this spring, according to Blawat.

“However, feed supplies are not an issue with most producers, since we had a nice winter that made the feed supplies go further,” Blawat said.

In McIntosh County, Schaunaman said calving is about half way done in the county, and that there haven’t been any problems reported.

“Last year we had a few issues and this year I haven’t heard of a single one,” she said. “Calves are not too big, they’re not getting scours, not getting sick, and so that’s going well.”

Much like out west, Schaunaman expressed the need for some moisture.

“We need some rain,” she said. “With going out to pasture soon here, if we don’t get some rain to back it up, we’ll be in trouble early on.”