Field and Garden: Cool weather slows corn and soybeans

“You couldn’t ask for better weather than we’ve had this year for small grains,” one farmer remarked to me during the Foster County fair.

Unfortunately, the cool, wet conditions over the last six weeks haven’t been as favorable for corn and soybeans. Both crops thrive in temperatures around the mid-80s.

Last June, we experienced 19 days above 80 degrees, and several producers mentioned they’d never seen corn grow so rapidly early in the season. This year, however, the mercury exceeded 80 degrees on just four days in June.

“The corn has caught up a little bit,” one producer noted. “If we get some warm weather, it should really take off, but the soybeans still have a long way to go.”

Excess moisture has been another problem, causing crops in low areas to drown out. Precipitation amounts in Foster County have been 50 to 60 percent above normal since April 1.

On July 1, the normal high temperature is 79 degrees, while the normal low is 56 degrees. In a typical year, we expect to receive 3.6 inches of rainfall in July.

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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Project Safe Send will collect unusable pesticides from farmers, ranchers, and homeowners at eight locations statewide this summer.

The nearest collection site to Carrington is in Valley City. Herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, and fungicides will be collected at the Department of Transportation, 1524 8th Ave SW in Valley City on Tuesday, July 9, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Additional collection sites across the state include Bismarck, Beulah, Dickinson, Tioga, Minot, Rugby, and Larimore, each on different dates.

Both small and large quantities are accepted. Participants bringing more than 1,000 pounds are asked to pre-register with Dylan Zubke at 701-425-3016 or [email protected].

If pesticide containers are deteriorating or leaking, they should be packed in larger containers with absorbent materials.

Project Safe Send only accepts pesticides and does not accept unwanted fertilizer, paint or oil.

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Are you a beginning or current farmer interested in transitioning to certified organic production of grains, oilseeds or pulses?

If so, then I invite you to attend the Organic Academy Roadshow, a two-day workshop that will be held at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center on Monday and Tuesday, July 15 and 16.

During the workshop, expert speakers and experienced farmers from the Northern Great Plains region will cover a range of topics, including:

• Developing an organic system plan

• Economics and markets for organic products

• Considerations when transitioning an operation

• Working with an organic consultant

Participants will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and share ideas with seasoned organic farmers and ranchers.

There is no registration fee, but registration is required. Register online at https://bit.ly/organic-academy-carrington.

The Organic Academy Roadshow in Carrington is a collaborative effort by NDSU Extension, the North Dakota Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program and the National Center for Appropriate Technology.

If you have questions about the training, please contact me in the Extension office (652-2581, [email protected].