Very hot and humid conditions have prevailed over North Dakota hard red spring and durum crops in recent days. The hot temperatures have been beneficial in advancing crop maturity, but the extreme heat, and hotter than typical night time temps have likely added some yield stress to portions of the crop, dependent on soil moisture and stage of development. Fortunately, soil moisture conditions remain adequate to surplus over the bulk of the state, limiting overall stress to the crop. This was reflected in weekly crop condition ratings holding steady with the previous week for North Dakota spring wheat, at 80% still rated good to excellent. The U.S. spring wheat crop is rated 71% good to excellent. South Dakota rates 67% of its crop good to excellent, while Minnesota is reporting 71% of the crop at good to excellent.
Disease threats have increased with the stretch of high humidity across the state, and producers have been active in applying foliar fungicides to try and minimize disease impacts. Insect pressures from grasshoppers have been reported to be fairly widespread, and heavier than usual across the state, and are impacting multiple crops not just wheat.
Although the maturity of the later than usual planted spring wheat crop has been accelerated with the recent heat, it remains 2, to as much as 4 weeks behind normal in development over most areas of the state. According to crop observation reports to NASS, the North Dakota spring wheat crop is estimated to be 63% headed, well behind the 5-year average of 91%, and just 6% of the crop is starting to turn color compared to the normal level of 27% for this date. The U.S. spring wheat crop is 68% headed with South Dakota the most advanced at 91% headed. Minnesota is reporting 71% of the crop is headed.
The North Dakota durum crop condition remains at an exceptionally high level, with 84% rated good to excellent, although this is down slightly from last week's level of 89 percent. Hot temperatures and elevated disease pressures are recent challenges to the crop, with some parts of the state also impacted by short term excess moisture in fields. The Montana durum crop improved slightly in condition ratings to 59% good to excellent, up from 54% the previous week, as crops show the benefit of recent rains. The maturity of the crop is most advanced in Montana, with 62% headed, near their 5-yr average. In North Dakota, just 46% has reached the heading stage, well behind the 5-yr average of 85 percent. There also remains about 20% of the North Dakota crop that had not reached the jointing stage as of mid-July, compared to the 5-yr average of just 3% not jointed by this date.
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Wheat, Weather, North Dakota, Crops, Wheat, South Dakota, Crops, Wheat