Snow another hindrance to wheat planting in North Dakota

For the eighth straight month, snow fell in north-central North Dakota's Nelson County, putting an already tardy planting season even further behind.

"Planting is off to a very slow start," said Katelyn Hain, the former Nelson County Extension agent who now serves Grand Forks County, just east of Nelson.

Though rapid planting progress is being made in much of the Upper Midwest, the North Dakota planting pace is lagging badly, according to the weekly crop progress report released May 11 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The report reflected conditions on May 10.

Just 27% of North Dakota spring wheat was planted on May 10, less than half the five-year average of 56% for that date. Remember, statewide averages can obscure major differences within the same state.

The most recent Nelson County May snowfall — which continues the monthly streak of snow that began there with heavy snows in early October 2019 — totaled 5 to 6 inches in places. Despite melting rapidly, the snow again delayed planting, including spring wheat, normally the first of the area's major crops (corn and soybeans are the others) to go into the ground.

"It's getting late to plant wheat," Hain said, adding that some fields once slated for wheat this growing season may end up in the federal prevented planting program.

Warm, dry weather is needed quickly, she said.

Other parts of the region, especially Minnesota and Iowa, are enjoying better planting success, especially with corn and soybeans. Here's a closer look:

Minnesota: 40% of the state's spring wheat was planted on May 10, down from the five-year average of 67% for that date. Most Minnesota spring wheat is in the northwest part of the state, much of which is struggling with cool, wet conditions.

Montana: 50% of Montana spring wheat was in the ground on May 10, down from the five-year average of 62% for that date.

North Dakota: 27% of the crop was planted on May 10, compared with the five-year average of 56% for that date.

South Dakota: 75% of the crop was planted on May 10, down slightly from the five-year average of 78% for that date.

Iowa: 91% of corn was planted on May 10, compared with the five-year average of 66% for that date.

Minnesota: 80% of corn was in the ground on May 10, compared with the five-year average of 57% for that date.

North Dakota: 7% of corn was planted on May 10, down from the five-year average of 38% for that date.

South Dakota: 51% of corn was planted on May 10, compared with the five-year average of 38% for that date.

North Dakota: Just 4% of the crop was planted by May 10, down from the five-year average of 17% for that date.

South Dakota: 23% of the crop was in the ground by May 10, compared with the five-year average of 13% for that date.

Iowa: 71% of the crop was planted by May 10, nearly triple the five-year average of 24% for that date.

Minnesota: 57% of the crop was planted by May 10, nearly double the five-year average for that date.

Wet conditions in much of the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota continue to hamper sugar beet planting.

In Minnesota, 53% of the crop was planted by May 10, down from the five-year average of 78% for that date.

In North Dakota, 35% of the crop was in the ground by May 10, less than half the five-year average of 82% for that date.