Wheat is getting a late start this year, thanks to colder than average April temperatures says a report at the Williston Herald. That’s not a big problem yet, but too much later, and the late planting dates could have implications for yields down the line.
That’s because warmer temperatures during the early vegetative stages of wheat’s growth cycle can reduce the number of tillers that wheat produces. The size of the spike can also be reduced by warmer temperatures.
Right now, in North Dakota, the latest crop report shows spring wheat at 20% planted, well behind 41% last year, and behind the 38% average. Durum is 7% planted, behind last year’s 22%, and the 18% average.
Read the full report here.
