Fargo, North Dakota
April 19, 2007
Initial reports indicate that
North Dakota's winter wheat crop escaped major damage from the
abnormally cold weather in early April, says Joel Ransom,
North Dakota State
University Extension Service agronomist for cereal crops.
"Though the record cold weather that passed through the state
had the potential to damage winter wheat that was just starting
spring growth, it appears from the reports received to date that
the crop in North Dakota may have escaped widespread damage,"
Ransom says.
Bag tests conducted by Blake Vander Vorst, Ducks Unlimited
agronomist, found good winter wheat survival in fields sampled
in Emmons County, with early planted crops showing the best
vigor.
Similarly, Kent McKay, NDSU North Central Research Extension
Center area agronomist in Minot, found that survival looked good
in the north-central region of the state.
Also, the vigor of winter wheat plants at research plots near
Prosper looked good, Ransom says.
"There was some obvious damage in parts of the field where water
may have accumulated, but overall the plants seemed to be in
pretty good shape," he says. "We are extremely lucky that the
winter wheat was still small when the cold weather passed
through the state.
"The winter wheat damage caused by this cold weather in other
parts of the U.S. has been significant," Ransom says. "For
fields that are found to have adequate stands, now is the time
to start thinking about applying nitrogen. If you didn't get
your nitrogen on in the fall, applying it early in the spring
produces the best response." |
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