MGGA Weekly Crop Condition Survey
JUNE 30, 2020
Chouteau County - Lochiel Edwards
The big rain forecast for the weekend finally came through for us on Monday evening, with 3/4 inch. As of early Tuesday am, I have not toured the farm, but it looked like all ends of my earth were treated well. Spring wheat is beginning to bloom, so the rain is very timely for that and for the other spring crops on Lonesome Prairie. Moisture is a bit late for winterwheat, but will still make for fatter kernels. Most chemfallow has not yet seen a second spraying, but that will ramp up in a week or so. Grasshoppers are a potential problem; maybe this cool wet weather will curb them for now. There's a fair number of millers, but they should be leaving soon for their summer vacation in Glacier. Moisture conditions are good receiving .77" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat and spring wheat. Problems showing up are sawfly and locusts; cheat and mustards; and ceph. Will begin harvest July 25, 1pm.
Fergus County - Robert Bold
This was a really really nice rain! Normally, Mother Nature has the tap shut off by now. The winter wheat is filling nicely. Barley is headed out and good height. All the early seeded spring wheat is headed. My "looters" (elk) are doing just fine. For not having much of a language and no cell phones, they sure do communicate well as to where the best grub is. Moisture conditions are good with 1.2" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat and barley. Had to spray spring crop field edges for hoppers. Got a good kill on this hatch. More to come, I am sure. Kochia also a problem showing up. One month ago, we finished seeding for a neighbor. One month from now, we will be on a combine.
Garfield County - Scott Glasscock
The crops are progressing nicely. Some of the early winter wheat is filling, and some just headed out last week. The spring wheat headed out last week. Peas are starting to set pods, and the lentils are in full flower. Our corn is mid thigh high and has a nice dark green color. The grasshoppers are thick in places. Going to do some spraying as soon as it dries up. Started haying last week. It's better than I thought it would be. Not an overabundance of rain in June, but adequate. Moisture conditions are good receiving .65" of precipitation the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, peas, lentils, corn and hay. Problems showing up are grasshoppers and prickly lettuce. Will begin harvest July 28.
Hill County - Eric Hanson
It was a busy week up here emptying out the rain guage. Emptying out the dead bugs, dirt, and bird poop. Just in case the rain they were calling for actually came. Didn't want to record a skewed amount! The days of 90 degree heat and wind took their toll and the crops were starting to go backwards. We were in the middle of the two step, and were well on our way to trying out a new move called the 3 or 4 step when the rain finally showed up. We had a 4am storm that erupted over us on Sunday and dropped .7-1" of rain. We then proceeded to get more through out Monday to reach totals of .9-2.1" at our different farms. What a saving grace these storms have been. Bizarre it took until almost the 4th of July to measure our biggest single event of rain for the year as well as our biggest overall rain total from a system for the year. Thank you to the neighbors who had hay laid down. Crops are now set until harvest. Most certainly the winter wheat which won't benefit as much as the spring crops at this point. It will be winter wheat this fall that will probably benefit from it more. The spring wheat will see the most benefit. It will be fun to see how far this crop will run and what it will do with this later season rain. The peas were really stressed and in mid bloom. I'm hoping they didn't get too stressed and will be able to recover and keep blooming. Combines are near being ready to go. 2nd round chemfallow will commence probably next week. Roguing odd wild oat patches where they are starting to show up. General repair and maintenance. A steady week that will end with some fireworks. Next year might be a bad army cutworm year. The sheds are full of them and it's quite a sight of grand exodus with the birds going after them whenever the doors get opened. And I'm happy to report our regularly scheduled program (harvest) has now been moved to a better time slot with better ratings! Moisture conditions are good with .9-2.1" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat and peas. Problems showing up are army cutworm moths; odd wild oats; and diseases are yet to be determined with this moisture. Will begin harvest July 26.
Hill County - Trevor Wolery
Extremely grateful that .56 of precipitation came during the night. Spring wheat is now playing Elvis love me tender on the radio for the next two week joy ride. Sw is 60% headed out with ww beginning to turn. Lentils are soon to flower. Kochia seems to flourish in any kind of weather and that battle will continue. Thanks again for the rain and everyone have a safe Fourth of July. God Bless the USA. Moisture conditions are good with .56" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat and lentils. Will begin harvest sooner than later.
Judith Basin County - Greg Mathews
Had .15 rain Saturday night and that was it for the week June 21-28. Saturday, Hobson and north got a half inch or more. Need some rain for the barley as it is starting to turn blue on the gravel knolls. Should be all headed out this next week before the Fourth. No insects yet but some are spraying alfalfa for weevil. Will start haying after the rain that is supposed to hit us the 27 through July 1. Some brave people have started haying and got most put up before the rain on Saturday. Not many, but a few...yield looks fair. Moisture conditions are good receiving .15" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, barley and hay. Problems showing up are weevils.
Judith Basin County - Bing Von Bergen
The crops look really good in the Moccasin area. We have been very fortunate that we get some real hot weather and start seeing some crop burn and then we get a very timely weekend rain. The recrop winter wheat has holes in it from cut worms but has filled in some. The chemical fallow winter wheat looks very good. Winter wheat is headed, spring wheat is in the boot and starting to head, and the barley is heading. I didn't start haying yet with the rain that was forecast. It looks like the 4th of July weekend will be haying instead of playing. Haven't seen any sawfly flying around or many grasshoppers, so keeping our fingers crossed. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 2" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, barley and hay.
Liberty County - Craig Henke
Rained just in time as things were needing a drink. Will give us a break from irrigating, maybe can take few days off. Shows 1.15 this morning and had .33 in the middle of the week, so should be enough moisture to finish ww and peas and lentils. Best peas and lentils crop in years. Spring wheat is headed and filling, mustard in full bloom. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 1.48" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, peas, lentils and mustard. Will begin harvest July 31.
Sheridan County - Gordon Stoner
Received nearly an inch of rain over the weekend with more in the forecast. The rain is a bit late for the peas but they should finish nicely now. Very timely rain for the lentils, will start fungicide as soon as I can get in the fields. Jury is out on wheat. Early wheat was definitely under stress, later wheat will do well if we can keep moisture coming. Will watch scab forecast and ponder whether fungicide is a good investment. Edit Tues morning: The NDAWN station one mile south of my house tallied 3.5 inches in under two hours last night. Lots of water moving this morning.
Teton County - Mitch Konen
Crops on the Greenfields bench are looking outstanding. Most everything is heading out or in the boot. Irrigation has pretty much been halted with the first round just getting finished up and some waiting on the rain. And the rain did come. I recorded 1.3" at the home place, and closer to 2" on the southern region dryland farm. That should set up the winter wheat and dryland hay for sure. A little bit of hay in the area was put down last week with very little getting baled before the rain. I would venture to guess that haying will be in full swing just after the 4th now. Peas and early canola are flowering giving the bench a patchwork of color. The short grass prairie is still green, the greenest I think I have ever seen it. The cows are happy and not putting very many miles on before laying down to ruminate. With the upcoming celebration of the birth of our nation, I hope we can all celebrate in good health and honor those who gave us such a country in which we can enjoy the freedoms we have. Happy and safe Fourth of July. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 1.54" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, canola and hay. Problems showing up are flea beetles, mosquitoes and deer flies; wild mustard, wild oats, tansy mustard and curly dock.
JUNE 23, 2020
Chouteau County - Lochiel Edwards
Crops in Edwardsfarm precinct are being pushed along by continued dry conditions, especially the winterwheat. 3-4 sharp tstorms over the weekend blessed us with a good 4 tenths of water on the northeast end; the southwest acreage was left out. Our spring wheat was in the storm track and should benefit from those showers. Amounts were even better farther east and north into southern Hill County. Some in the area are starting on their second round of chemfallowing. Pulse crops and spring wheat look really good, and dry weather is helping stall diseases. Early WW is at 3/4 filled or better, and most has begun the fill. Less wind and relatively cool temps have been helpful with crop health. Moisture conditions are fair receiving .41-1.1" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat and spring wheat. Problems showing up are sawfly; cheat and mustard; and drought related disease.
Fergus County - Robert Bold
The spring crop is coming on fast. I have never seen a spring crop pop like this year is. Never. Nearly ideal growing conditions for temperature and moisture. So far we have not experienced any crop stress. However, I was in Alex's part of the world yesterday, and yes there is a lot of crop stress in there--especially dryland hay. Many acres of hay there will not be hayed this year. That said, the hay here in our area is not as good looking in the windrow as it is standing. The cool spring and dry April and first half of May shows now. Our barley and early seeded spring wheat is shooting heads. The winter wheat looks great. We are probably 6 weeks away from winter wheat harvest. In addition, one thing I notice on this year's MGGA crop survey are the changes made--like not asking for yield information. The elimination of yield information from the crop report makes it tougher on those trying to lie or brag. (Just my observation.) Moisture conditions are good with about an 1"+ of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat and barley. Problems showing up are lots of little hoppers; kochia and buckwheat.
Flathead County - Tryg Koch
This year's season is off to a great start, getting great moisture. Cooler temps as canola starts to bloom. We are having to spray for cabbage seed pod weevils in canola. The winter wheat is still not fully headed yet so hopefully that means a bumper wheat crop this year. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 1" of precipitation the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, canola and hay. Insects showing up are cabbage seed pod weevils.
Hill County - Eric Hanson
We went camping last weekend for my 20 year class reunion. It was a great time and saw some faces that I haven't seen since the day we threw our caps. Showering in a camper reminded me of how our crops have felt this last week. Four short bursts that barely get you wet and then you're done. We had four little systems that dropped not quite 1/10 each time last week. And now here comes the heat. It's like that time my boots were too close to the campfire. The winter wheat is burning up in a few areas but is still largely holding its own as of yesterday. And the spring wheat is heading and still looking good. The peas started blooming a few days ago, just in time for 3 or 4 days of 90 degree weather. I was afraid of that. But overall, crops are looking good. I'm a little afraid what things are going to look like by this time next week. The crops are looking to be average at this point, with the exception of the spring wheat if we can get rain. It's in the forecast, so we will see if it can get here in time. Or at all. Never know in this country. Just starting chemfallow on a few fields with our 2nd time over. Everything else is holding for now and probably will for awhile unless the rain shows up. Combines and headers will come out of the shed for the last few repairs at the end of the week. Haying in the area has been in full swing the last week, a bit early, but good hay it sounds like. I forgot to mention in my crop report a few weeks back about the spectacular sawfly hatch I experienced. I have yet in my life, up here in sawfly country, seen the sheer numbers I saw the one evening we were out crop checking. I even made my wife get out of the pickup to see this rare and exciting moment! Even she was in awe. Swathers are going to be a hot commodity in 3-4 weeks. I'm just glad we are wall to wall "show" wheat. Suns out, I better go work on my farmers tan. Catch you all next week. Moisture conditions are fair with 3/10 divided by 4 of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat and peas.
Hill County - Trevor Wolery
Spring wheat’s joyride has ran out of gas with Marty Robbins singing the blues on the radio. Moisture has been nill lately in the Goldstone country. Fallow seems to be the only crop thriving. Moisture conditions are fair receiving no precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat and lentils. Problems showing up are lack of moisture and king kochia.
Judith Basin County - Greg Mathews
The crops are really looking up. WW is heading out and the barley is soon to follow. Alfalfa is really taking off and will probably start haying the Fourth of July week. Some good rain this last week but was spotty. Four days it rained for a total of an inch. Finished spraying SF for the second time. Moisture total for the month of June is down for an average having recieved 2.20. Moisture conditions are good receiving 1" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, barley and hay.
Liberty County - Craig Henke
Crops all still look great, but with high 80's coming things can change. Could use another 1 inch to finish the winter wheat. Mustard is in full bloom, peas and lentils been blooming for a week. Hay is laying down so could get a rain shower. Summer is flying by, got winter wheat seed cleaned and ready for fall planting. Moisture conditions are good receiving 4 tenths of an inch of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, peas, lentils and mustard.
Northern Yellowstone, Eastern Stillwater County - Michelle Jones
Haying season is in full swing. We’re several hundred acres into the project now. Decent yields. Weevils and grasshoppers are a problem in the area. Winter wheat looks excellent - most is flowering or already done. We followed up 2 days in the 90s with 0.8-1” of rain. Much needed to finish the winter wheat and for the spring crops. Still below normal for the year by a bit - but we’ve had very timely rains. The northern end of these two counties is in much better moisture conditions than the southern end. Spring wheat and barley look good. Safflower is so-so. Did spray out one field due to cutworms and grasshoppers. Will have to monitor the aforementioned grasshoppers - may be an issue later. Currently expect wheat harvest at the earliest to be July 20 (I refuse to start on a weekend like Eric and Lochiel - so I’m going with Monday.) Moisture conditions are good receiving .8-1" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, safflower, hay and barley. Grasshoppers and cutworms showing up.
Teton County - Mitch Konen
Crops are progressing well on the Greenfields bench and with the direct sunlight of late, they are in overdrive with growth rates. Irrigation has been the task of the last week or so. Pivots and sprinklers have been running nonstop for better than a week and a lot of the corners and fields have been or are being flooded. Winter wheat is heading or headed out. Spring wheat and barley are just starting to flag. Field peas are starting to bloom. Canola has many stages with the majority bolting and starting to flower. My canola is staged from cotyledon to 6-leaf due to late seeding but is coming on fast with the heat. And so are the weeds. Man I got to get them sprayed. A little damage from flea beetles can be found as well. All in all the conditions of crops and the short-grass prairie couldn't be in much better shape with a nice green look of paradise here off the east slopes of the Rockies. Can still see some snow way up high and in the back country and we are getting close to the Fourth of July. Haying season will soon be in full swing soon as well. Everyone stay safe. Prayers and best wishes go out to fellow board member Kurt Voss and family for a speedy recovery and renewed health. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving .5" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, canola and hay. Problems showing up are mosquitoes and flea beetles; curly dock, thistles, wild oats; and tan spot.
JUNE 16, 2020
Big Horn County - Alex Smith
Haven't sent any surveys in this year. The Crow Tribe was awarded something over 300 million dollars to buy land from individual natives and put it in tribal ownership. Land I have been farming for 30 years was bought by the tribe and now there is Native preference on bidding. I lost my leases and am being forced into early retirement at 73 years old. Leased out my deeded to a good operator on a crop share basis and am involved in management. Winter wheat is so so in the area, spring crops are really suffering and haying has started with dryland about half a crop. We are something over 3 inches behind normal. Doing custom spraying for neighbors. Moisture conditions are poor here with no precip the past week. Alfalfa weevil is bad, spraying some field twice. Weed pressure is from the usual prickley lettuce, mustards.
Chouteau County - Lochiel Edwards
Crops on Lonesome Prairie are growing hard. Edwardsfarm winterwheat is mostly headed and HRS is jointed and more. No rain this past week, but we did get our share of wind. Nice heads on the wheat, so a June rain would be welcome! Sawfly emerged from its lair on about June 7. Some infestations of young hoppers locally have the more astute farmers spraying edges- this is so far not a pandemic, but has the potential to blow up with dry conditions. Had a Grizzly on the east end of Edwardsfarm property, supposedly the same bear that had chicken dinner at Nathan Keane's place. Rumor has it the bear went to the Bear Paws. Harvest is still scheduled for July 18, 1pm. Moisture conditions are fair with no precip the past week. We're seeing sawfly and locusts; cheat and mustard; and some drought related disease.
Fergus County - Robert Bold
I see hay being laid down. That means it should start raining. Good growing conditions other than 3 days of wind this past week. Winter wheat is heading out. Barley is going nuts. Looks to be a good crop for the beer drinkers. Moisture conditions are good with no precip the past week. We're seeing grass hoppers - the very hungry kind. Weed pressure is from Kochia and Buck wheat in the spring crops. Need to get started going over the chem fallow.
Hill County - Eric Hanson
Thinking maybe we should have changed over from grain to turbines and started a wind farm up here this year. So far it would have been a bumper year! Got some rain 10 days ago, 4/10-9/10th depending on where you were at. Had a storm roll through on Saturday evening that missed part of the farm completely but put up 2/10 at the other. Small hail in it but no damage. Looked like Chester and north all the way to Calgary caught the real brunt of that storm system. Crops look good. Winter wheat is 90-100% headed and filling. After looking at the calendar we will be a day behind on starting harvest from Lochiel; July 19 after we get home from church. Spring wheat is looking really good. It hasn't been heat stressed or short of moisture. Just the relentless beating from the wind. We did have some leaf shredding in the one storm and some tan spot cropping up from the recent moisture, but its determination keeps it growing fast and looking good so far. I hope I can continue to report that with heat and the 4th on the way. Peas are a little behind but coming along. We might end up in some real heat when they start flowering but only time will tell. Weeds are starting the next wave. We got some tillage done this past week and will start over the chemfallow next week as it comes. Noticed a bit ago some row worms showed up on our place. They haven't been discriminatory among crop types, nor varying in their effectiveness. Completely bare rows from one end of the field to the other. Have to look into a better treat this fall; as in if you get out and check for plugs more often you might get a treat. Only myself to blame...but those darn row worms! Moisture conditions are fair with 0.4 to 1.0 inch the past week. Weeds - too many; disease - tan spot.
Judith Basin County - Bing Von Bergen
Thank goodness we got the rains on June 6th and 7th as Mother Nature took some of it away with 90 degrees and strong south winds this week. Crops are looking good with the winter wheat heading. The spring wheat joint is just below the surface and same with barley. Found four alfalfa blooms Sunday so haying will be starting shortly. Average to above average looking crops here. The recrop winter wheat isn't very good as we had a lot of cutworm and wire worm damage in trashy fields and should've sprayed for them sooner than I did. Moisture conditions are good with 2 tenths inch of rain the past week. This year we're growing winter wheat, spring wheat, barley and hay. Insect pressure is from cutworms and wire worms; weeds are cheat, prickly lettuce and Japanese brome.
Liberty County - Craig Henke
Crops are still looking good, even with all the wind. Had to start pivots as mother nature didn't give us another inch rain last week.
Summer flies by, winter wheat is heading and soon it will be harvest. First cutting hay about ready to take off. Pulse crops are doing great, as they like this cool weather, and mustard is starting to bloom. Took a little trip to the west side of mountains; still lots of snow in the mountains. Things are nice and green over there. Moisture conditions are good. Current insect pressure is from flea beetles.
Teton County - Mitch Konen
Crops are coming along nicely. Winter wheat is heading out. Barley is jointed. Spring wheat is a little slow but just starting to joint. The canola has finally rowed up and will be progressing rapidly now. Will need to spray the canola soon and then it can be cleaned up and stored for a while. Irrigation has started with a fervor here on the Greenfields bench. A lot of pivots running and flood water being spread around but no major demand to warrant any rationing yet. Grass for hay is looking real good for right now but will need a drink from above to sustain it much longer. Otherwise it will be haying time soon. Some have started knocking down alfalfa for the high value market. That will bring the rain that they have been forecasting for the last week. Moisture conditions are excellent with no precip the past week. Insect pressure is from wire worms, flea beetles, mosquitoes; weeds are tansy mustard, wild oats, canadian thistle, dandelions; and we're seeing some tan spot.
JUNE 9, 2020
Chouteau County - Lochiel Edwards
Like a young hipster, our winterwheat has started to show a bit of beard. A good half inch of rain over the weekend has given our crops a reprieve from an arid growing season. The crested wheatgrass in the yard rehydrated in a matter of minutes. Spring grains enjoyed the water as well, but so far have not suffered. As of this week, harvest is still scheduled to begin July 18, 1pm. I still haven't seen the sawflies. Moisture conditions are fair receiving 0.6" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat and spring wheat. Problems showing up are cheat, mustard and drought.
Fergus County - Robert Bold
Country looks good! In its Sunday Best! Had a nice rain over the weekend. When you are in the dry land business there is never a rain you can't use. To date we are behind rain fall averages for May and June. Those are our wet months. Haying is ready to start. Earlier than normal. We have some winter wheat starting to head. As a rule of thumb, its 6 or so weeks to harvest. Moisture conditions are good with an inch of precipitation in the past week. Spring wheat needs spraying. Kochia and buckwheat are showing up.
Liberty County - Craig Henke
Saturday evening rain station had caption raining cats n dogs. Was quite the rain, by Sunday morning had 1.8 inches moisture. Had a few puddles but by mid afternoon were all gone. Came at perfect time as winter wheat is starting to head. All crops look great. Finished with all spring crop spraying by Saturday afternoon. Nice break, will not have to start the pivots this week. Grassland was showing some stress, so will help that out. Moisture conditions are excellent with 1.9 inch rain the past week.
Teton County - Mitch Konen
Crops are springing right along with the much needed rain over the weekend. Spent most of last week spraying the first round of herbicides. Will have to wait for round two as the ground is plenty soft with near an inch of moisture. Plus the wind has come up a little. Guys were getting geared up for irrigation but have put most on hold for a few days with the rain. Prairie grass is the best I have seen in a long time and the cows do not move a long ways before resting to ruminate. Very peaceful out here on the farm. Moisture conditions are excellent with 0.9 inch precipitation the past week. I'm seeing wire worms, flea beetles and mosquitoes; tansy mustard, wild oats, canadian thistle, dandelions; and some tan spot.
JUNE 2, 2020
Chouteau County - Lochiel Edwards
Just-in-time delivery of rain has our crops looking pretty good, in spite of just 1.53 inches since April 1. An inch of this came 2 weeks ago, and has saved our bacon with the recent warm winds. Earlier winterwheat is flagging, and all spring crops in my neighborhood are looking healthy. I've often had wheat headed by the end of May, but we are running way behind that this year. Harvest date and yield will depend less on that, though, and more on the next six weeks' weather. A cool, wet June would push harvest to August 1, but the weather trend at Edwardsfarm hints at a much earlier date. Sawflies have been holding off on emergence; they seem to sense crop stage and adjust. We will too. Moisture conditions are fair receiving 0" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat and spring wheat. Weeds showing up are cheat, mustards and prickly lettuce.
Fergus County - Robert Bold
Done seeding for a neighbor. There were a lot of last minute spring and reseeding done this past week here in our area. Soil moisture is good, but will need growing season moisture to make the crop. Here in this area, there was not real self isolation. All our farming services were normal and timely. However, it has been told to me that self isolation was like a dog in the house. Roam the house all day. Look for food. Heard "no" a lot. Really looked forward to a pickup ride. Moisture conditions are good receiving .15" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat and barley. Mosquitoes showing up. Will be scouting in spring wheat for weeds. Will be spraying soon.
Fergus County - Boyd Heilig
Crops are catching up to a normal pace. Getting the spring wheat sprayed. Moisture conditions are good receiving .25" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat and spring wheat. Weeds showing up are wild oats and prickly lettuce.
Hill County - Eric Hanson
It was a busy week up here on the dry-line. Oh, sorry, it's the hi-line, that's right. With no rain delays, we scurried through all the winter wheat crop and finished spraying it on Friday. I'm always a bit peeved when I see someone has taken the ditch accidentally or a local youngster who's out having fun puts tracks through our crop; and then here we go driving over every acre. Some of the winter wheat looks better from the road than the sprayer. It's still got a long ways to go but had a week of great growing weather. It's going to need a drink soon. The peas got rolled and are looking good with a little weevil pressure showing up. We will be keeping a close eye on that issue as we approach the threshold. We've sprayed for them the last 3 years so I'm under the impression that we will end up following suit once again. The spring wheat crop is starting to really grow and is looking good. This might be the week some of the best spring wheat in the area catches some of the winter wheat that's still lagging behind. Weird year. I hope to scout the spw today and start getting lined up to spray if weed pressure says go. The last 2-3 days have been really windy and hovering around the 85+ degree mark. Looking around I've concluded that an inch of rain buys you about 8 or 9 days in this country. To summarize, we are back to praying for, or begging for, rain in every other sentence. I'm hoping Mitch doesn't get my order of rain this week as I don't think this one can be late. Moisture conditions are fair with no measurable precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat and peas. Weevils showing up in peas as well as tansy, thistle and lettuce in winter wheat.
Hill County - Trevor Wolery
Antelope had a peaceful protest at Goldstone this week and kept the looting to a minimum. Winter wheat and chem fallow spraying has been completed along with a field of spring wheat due to grass pressure, which was a management issue with no one else to blame except the dog. HRW looks good but afraid the cream is gone due to the tough spring conditions. HRS is in excellent condition and growing fast. Haven’t had any precipitation since reporting last week but honestly rain has become addictive now and would take some at anytime. Lentils will need to be rolled this week along with some weed control in spring wheat. Everyone stay safe and united. Moisture conditions are good receiving 0" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat and lentils. Pest problems showing up are wind, wind and wind.
Judith Basin County - Greg Mathews
What a difference some heat has done after the rain last week. Spring crop has doubled in size, ww has just about got the ground shaded, hay looks to be the best so far. Will start spraying spring crop next week then move on to summerfallow later in the week or next week as weeds need to grow a little more. No rain this last week but plenty of wind. Would be nice to see another round of nice rain later in the week after the heat and high 70's, low 80's last week. Glad to hear that Memorial Weekend was wet for most. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 0" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, barley and hay.
Liberty County - Craig Henke
Three days of east wind and no rain, and on Sunday we are back to west winds. Warm weather has things growing fast, started spraying spring wheat and grass control on peas and lentils. Started pivots on winter wheat to give another drink, with wind and thick stand using moisture up. Lots of mustard planted in this neighborhood, and all looks great. See winter canola in full bloom, bright yellow fields look great. Here we are in June already, summer going fast. Moisture conditions are good. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, peas, lentils and mustard. Lots of tansy showing up.
Teton County - Mitch Konen
Finally finished with seeding 2020 crops last Friday evening for the most part. Went back today to pick up some very wet spots that I could not get into and had relative ease in finishing. So it is on to cleaning and storing equipment. Crops are progressing well with the sunshine and a little bit of heat. A few more days and I will once again get the sprayer rolling across the farm as the barley and wheat is 3 leaf and tillering. Sprayers are the regular traffic these days out here on the bench. The winter wheat is making a great comeback after getting flailed by hail on the 18th. Spend most of my mornings crop scouting and thinning the gopher population. Most of the neighboring irrigated winter wheat has been sprayed and topdressed and the pivots are coming on to give them a drink to match their growth pattern. Alfalfa and pasture grass water will be in demand as well. Have dug up a few wire worms, and it sounds like the flea beetles are making their presence known, though not in great numbers yet. It has ended up being a slow start but looks to be a good crop year in the making. Have a good week. Moisture conditions are excellent receiving 0" of precipitation in the past week. Crops being grown are winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, canola and hay. Problems showing up are wire worms, flea beetles, mosquitoes, tansy mustard, wild oats, Canadian thistle, dandelions and barley net blotch.