Weather delays spring planting in northeastern SD, but there’s time to catch up
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By Elizabeth Varin
evarin@aberdeennews.com
Spring wheat seeds started going into the groundon April 26 at a farm south of Aberdeen.
“We’re behind,” said farmer Craig Schaunaman.
Weather conditions throughout the first half of April pushed spring planting back throughout South Dakota, but recent warm temperatures are putting area farmers back on track.
Last year, Schaunaman said he was done planting spring wheat in the first week of May. He, his brother and nephew haven’t changed their plans from winter on what they will plant this year.
“We may have to push a little longer days to get caught up, but we’ll get there,” he said.
Not much of the spring wheat farmers expected to plant was in the ground as of April 22, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture crop progress report. South Dakota had 2 percent planted, compared to 72 percent planted at the same time a year ago.
North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana reported no spring wheat planted as of April 22.
The later spring wheat is planted, the shorter the growing season and the bigger the potential yield loss, said State Climatologist Laura Edwards with South Dakota State University Extension. With the wet April weather, there are also concerns about disease.
“Wheat is especially susceptible to moisture and disease issues,” she said. “In some ways it’s probably good that it hasn’t been planted much yet to avoid what we’ve seen in April.”
There is also the potential for insurance issues as spring wheat isn’t covered by crop insurance if it’s planted after May 15 in South Dakota.
“If you wait so long, then you have to decide if you’re going to go without coverage or go to a different crop,” Edwards said.
Suggested seeding dates for spring wheat in northeastern South Dakota are April 1 through May 20 with the desired range April 8-27 according to a best management practices for wheat production report from SDSU Extension. Historically, half of the spring wheat in the region is seeded by April 26.
Other crops have been affected as well.
Only 2 percent of oats expected to be planted in South Dakota this year were in the ground on April 22. That’s compared to 65 percent for the week last year, according to the USDA crop progress report.
No corn was reported planted as of April 22. However, only 3 percent had been planted at this time last year, according to the report.
Snowfall and wet weather have kept farmers from the field, but that hasn’t meant down time for those in the agriculture industry.
At the Schaunaman farm, calving kept them busy through the cold winter weather that stuck around too long. And a little grain has been moved as road conditions have allowed, Schaunaman said.
Now, though, with ground temperatures in the 40s, he said it’s time to get going on planting.
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Planting the numbers
Corn planted in South Dakota
April 22, 2018: 0%
April 22, 2017: 3%
2013-2017 average: 4%
Oats planted in South Dakota
April 22, 2018: 2%
April 22, 2017: 65%
2013-2017 average: 54%
Spring wheat planted in South Dakota
April 22, 2018: 2%
April 22, 2017: 72%
2013-2017 average: 50%
Days suitable for fieldwork in South Dakota
Through April 22, 2018: 0.5 days
Through April 22, 2017: 3.8 days
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
