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The NDSU Extension weekly podcast In the Pod: Soybean Updates delivers timely insights and expert advice on soybean production.
You're listening to In The Pod, soybean updates, a weekly trek into the latest soybean information from NDSU Extension. Soybean planting conditions in general are rough this growing season. Victor Gomes, NDSU Extension cropping system specialist, has an update from Western North Dakota. Victor, what are the planting conditions in your area?
Victor Gomes:Well, Bruce, we've been pretty dry. It's been a long spell without any rain that we've been going through, and our water resources are depleting quick. So a lot of people have been planting other crops like wheat and corn and field peas, canola pretty much into dust at this point. And, unfortunately, with soybeans, that's not an option. So even though our soil temperature conditions have been ideal for a while now, it's been above 50 degrees for a good bit, Our moisture levels in some parts of Southwest And Western North Dakota, they are below 10 moisture in that two inch layer of the soil. So soybeans, because they have such a high oil content, sometimes they cannot sit in the soil for too long waiting for that moisture. And another risk that exists when you plant soybean into that dry ground is that they can imbibe some moisture and start to swell, but then they won't find enough moisture to continue their development and then the seedlings die. Those are kind of the conditions in the area. We do have some rain in the forecast for this coming week starting on the May 18. So hopefully we're going to get that because we really need that moisture, not only for soybeans, but for all the crops that we grow here in Southwest And Western North Dakota in general.
Bruce Sundeen:How is the soil temperature?
Victor Gomes:Both soil and air temperatures, they have been on the warmer side for the last couple weeks at least. Later last month, we did have some colder days. We got close to twenties, but I don't think anyone had soybeans in the ground at that point. Right now, the conditions as far as temperature, they're pretty much ideal. We just really need that moisture.
Bruce Sundeen:What's the planting story from the Western part of the state?
Victor Gomes:Most of our small grains are done. Our corn is progressing rapidly, and I anticipate people will start rolling soybeans here pretty soon as soon as the conditions get better as far as moisture. But we're not quite there yet. It's really interesting to see the difference between these two years because last year we had a fantastic year for soybeans here in Western North Dakota. We got yields in the 35 bushels per acre to 40 bushels per acre in some parts, and then this year, we are off to a rough start already. We'll see how this year goes.
Bruce Sundeen:With fertilizer prices high, have any farmers switched to soybeans?
Victor Gomes:Amongst the farmers that I spoke to in the past few days, in short, the answer is no. The reasons for that is one, most of them have booked their fertilizer ahead of the price hikes this year, so they booked it in the fall last year. And some of them even applied it in the fall last year, so they were able to avoid this price increase. The second reason for this adoption not being so large this year as far as soybeans is that most farmers here are pretty locked into their rotations. So some of them are into three, five year rotations, and they stick with it. The guys that I spoke to, they claim they don't like to play the markets. Otherwise, things can get even worse. Most of the people I I spoke to are sticking with their plants as usual, but I'm sure there is at least a small percentage of farmers that are making that switch. It's just not a large amount of them.
Bruce Sundeen:Victor, are farmers talking about the potential for a fertilizer shortage?
Victor Gomes:Over here, not so much. In fact, speaking with some of the coops in the area that supply fertilizers, they said that they are underbooked in this spring actually. So they have it available, but because the prices are so high, are just cutting back on the amount they're purchasing. Those are some of the decisions farmers are making right now. It's just, well, we're dry. Fertilizer prices are high. Maybe we can cut back on that and see how the season progresses. Of course, all of those cuts do have an impact. They have a repercussion, and you could have lower yields, but it remains to be seen. Let's see if our weather changes for the best. I hope that it changes.
Bruce Sundeen:Thanks, Victor. Our guest has been Victor Gomes, NDSU Extension cropping system specialist. You're listening to In The Pod, Soybean Updates, a weekly trek into the latest soybean information from NDSU Extension supported by the North Dakota Soybean Council.