AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho—Many Idaho farmers are preparing fields and planting early due to a mild winter and the early arrival of spring weather.
Some crop experts, however, worry growers may be gambling by planting grain, forage and even some sugarbeets so soon.
American Falls farmer Dustin Allen started planting hard red spring wheat on March 7, about two weeks earlier than usual. Allen said soil moisture is now ideal for planting, but he’s concerned it’s drying quickly due to recent dry weather. He planted a late-maturing wheat variety, hoping his crop won’t advance too quickly and become more susceptible to a late-spring frost. With his spring wheat, Allen said he’s “on the borderline of being concerned.” Winter wheat, which is further ahead in development than spring wheat, poses a greater risk of frost damage.
Eden farmer Jeff Henry also planted spring grain early.
“The reason we did it is because we’re losing moisture, and there’s no sign of rain in the forecast,” Henry said.
Magic Valley crop consultant Jared Cook, worries grain growers may be risking more by planting roughly three weeks before most irrigation water is available than they gain from germination in better soil moisture. Cook believes water-stressed wheat may be at a heightened risk of disease.
Picabo farmer Pat Purdy planted alfalfa and forage crops, which aren’t insurable, earlier than normal this season, acknowledging he’s assumed a greater risk of a killing frost. He’ll plant his grain after April 1, the earliest planting date eligible under his insurance policy for covering replanting. For Purdy, who draws irrigation water from the Wood River, planting early could compensate for the likely premature end to irrigation this season due to water shortage.
University of Idaho Extension cereals pathologist Juliet Marshall is concerned that early planting this season may stress crops that are likely to be weak already because of sprout-damaged seed. Marshall said following wet weather last August that caused widespread sprout damage in Idaho grain, testing of Idaho certified seed shows only 85 percent germination of much of the seed supply. Marshall said it’s likely that stripe rust spores survived Idaho’s mild winter, noting prediction models anticipate severe stripe rust outbreaks in grain this year. She’s also concerned early planted grain may encounter more pythium, a crop disease that thrives in cool, moist soil. Marshall said seed treatments are advisable for early plantings.
“I’ve heard reports of people who have already planted their spring grain,” she said. “Some people were starting in February.”
Though some larger growers in Twin Falls and Burley have already planted beets, risking frost damage for the chance at bumper yields, Allen will plant his after April 1, deterred by the expense of replanting beet seed engineered to resist glyphosate herbicide.
American Falls farmer Jim Tiede will wait to plant to be safe. But even Tiede will take advantage of the mild start to March, enabling him to jump on preparing his ground and potentially avoiding the need to plant multiple crops at once.
Source: www.capitalpress.com