Combines are rolling in area fields
Combines are rolling in area fields
By Jerry W. Kram
Summer time temperatures have helped small grain crops mature and farmers are starting to reap the bounty created by early spring planting.
“Anything that was planted early is doing pretty well,” said Daryl Stevens, manager of Dakota Quality Grain. “We are seeing winter wheat coming in as well as a little bit of barley.”
Stevens said field peas and more barley were also being harvested in the area, but most of that production was under contract and was going into storage elsewhere.
Stevens said yields of winter wheat have been mostly good in the region. Some fields suffered because they weren’t sprayed for fungal diseases. Because winter wheat lays dormant over the winter, it can be more vulnerable to some diseases than spring planted crops.
“The guys that took care of it had really good yields,” Stevens said. “Winter wheat is a crop you need take care of for leaf diseases in wet conditions. If you don’t it will come back to haunt you in the combine hopper.”
The small amount of barley that has come through Dakota Quality Grain has been lower in test weight and higher in protein than usual, Stevens said.
“A lot of barley goes straight to the bin because it is contracted as malting barley,” Stevens said.
Durum and spring wheat in the area are maturing, Stevens said. Because of the recent heat and lack of moisture, early planted fields are looking better. Stevens said soil moisture conditions were good through the end of May and into June, but that conditions have been too dry since then.
