April 1 2010

Greetings,

After a long cold snowy winter spring has come! Ok, I am old enough to know that this is still North Dakota and anything even close to looking like spring on April 1 could be pushed back, but hey, we have to have optimism! I walked around the plots last evening and yes, there are some plots that could be planted. The high ground is firm and dry. The slopes and low ground are still wet and sqwishy so it is going to be a little while. If we miss the rain that is forecast we could probably get something done late next week. We will see.

Every year brings something different. Winter wheat looks in good shape, but then so does the spring wheat! DU is working on a plan on how to deal with it. They will let us know shortly what their final decision is. Also, some of the cover crop made it through as well. I see what looks like rape and some of the radish is greening up. The alfalfa planted last fall looks super. I think every seed germinated. Amazing that we had the right combination of snow cover, temperatures, above freezing temps during snowmelt (even at night) and moderate temperatures since. I suppose that means some insects survived as well. Not sure what problems that will present but there is always something. I hear prediction of grasshoppers but have not seen any in our area at all.

Water is of course a big issue. Many sloughs have grown beyond their recent record heights. Where land is drained the water is disappearing. I don't think we had more than a 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of rain in all of March. Some fell the first week when the snow was melting but that was it.

We have several new plans for the plots this year. Some new equipment possibilities. I hope to use some compost tea. An experimental pre-emerge corn and soybean herbicide is being considered. Titan Machinery will again be supplying us with a new MX tractor. This year it will be a 335. Yeah, I think that will be big enough! I also want to try some spring re-strip tilling. The strip till variety trial proved to be very interesting last year so I hope we can put that in again this year in a different spot of course. We will continue with cover crops. By the way, don't forget to check out the eqip program for cover crops. CCSP was able to secure some extra funding in our 6 county area so if you are interested check with your local NRCS office. Cover crops may be planted on prevent plant acres. You may use your entire 3 year allotment of acres this year. You must sign up by April 9.

Have a good week.

Kelly Cooper- farm manager