The Red River Farm Network Crop Tour, presented by Pioneer, started in the southern Red River Valley and made its way through east-central North Dakota Wednesday. RRFN farm broadcasters Randy Koenen and Don Wick began the day at Amenia, North Dakota at Rush River Seed and Chemical.
Owner Shaun Nelson referenced 2019 as a year many farmers don’t like to talk about. “We still have a few growers with corn in the field and stuck combines because of wet conditions.” Sixty-to-70 percent of corn acres in the area ended up in a prevent plant situation, “but, at the same time, everything that got planted looks nice.” Most of the 2020 corn is denting or close to denting, depending on the maturity, and the shorter-day hybrids are five-to-seven days from black layer. View the Facebook video with Nelson.
In the Mayville, North Dakota area, Wayne Nelson described the soybean and corn as “phenomenal.” The timely rains, coupled by ample Growing Degree Units, have pushed the crop along. Another topic of importance is preparing for the 2021 crop. “Now is a good time to be scouting for what resistant weed pressure has persisted out in fields,” said Nelson. “Pioneer still has their full lineup of Extend soybeans, along with the Enlist technology, and will try to match growers with the right variety for the right field.” Watch the video update.
Page, North Dakota-based Page Seed and Agronomy co-owner Paige Elsner said despite a late start to planting, the crop is right on track. “It’s quite a different story than last year at this time. The corn is right around half milk line and 230 heat units ahead of 2019.” Most of the soybeans are in the R6 stage and are filling pods. “Grasshoppers were a pain this summer and they’re still kind of sticking around.” Elsner shares more in this update.
Brandon Larson and Justin Johnson of Innovative Ag Solutions provided a crop update from the Tower City, North Dakota area. “The planting and growing season were a struggle with too much moisture,” said Larson. “I’d estimate there was about 30-to-50 percent prevent plant around here.” One June 6, there was still standing corn on plot ground that was planted to soybeans. Johnson said the rain fell and the remainder of the field wasn’t planted until June 15. “We decided to finish planting to see how things reacted to late planting.” The full video is available on Facebook.
Located at Lake Park, Minnesota, Precision Seed and Service owner Corey O’Leary said there hasn’t been a shortage of moisture in the area. The well drained soils help that cause. “The corn is in a position to provide plenty of bushels this fall. It is pretty well dented, early maturities are quickly approaching black layer and hopefully September will provide ample drying weather.” Early maturing soybean varieties are already turning. “Hopes are high and I think they are very realistic.” The conversation with O’Leary is available here.
Ron Traux of Spring Creek Ag described both the planting and growing season as “very wet.” Prevent plant acres are noticeable in an area spanning from Litchville, northward to Rogers, Dazey and Hannaford, and east to Valley City, North Dakota. White mold has been more prevalent this year due to the excessively wet conditions. “The last couple years we’ve had pockets of severe white mold pressure. There’s been a lot of fog in the morning, but thankfully a lot more farmers treated the soybeans with fungicide this year.” Listen to the interview.
In the Walcott, North Dakota area, Jon Rieger Seed owner Jon Rieger said there’s been plenty of heat and moisture in the last few weeks to help the soybeans along. “We saw a little water damage on the low ground, but overall crop health is wonderful. There wasn’t a lot of insect pressure this year, with thistle caterpillars only impacting a handful of farmers, and aphids have been a non-issue in the area.” The corn is starting to dent. Hear more from Rieger.
Based at Buchanan, North Dakota, Matt Carlson of Plainview Seed and Agronomy said a large chunk of prevented plant acres were seen in the area this year. The corn and soybeans that did get planted, however, are thriving with the heat and rainfall. “The 78-day corn is already at black layer and that was about the only maturity that black layered last year,” he said. “While soybean plantings were down, what’s in the ground is going to yield in the 40-to-50 bushel range.” Harvest of the early planted soybeans is approximately three-to-four weeks away. Carlson has more in this interview.
The Red River Farm Network Crop Tour, presented by Pioneer, will be in northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota on Thursday. Follow the tour progress on Facebook and Twitter.