Page 4 The Press April 21, 2009
Around The County
Hat Tips
By Dean Meyer
by Extension Agent-In-Training
Marry Fear
Park River - 284-6624
PLANTING DATE
CONSI DERATIONS
It is finally the middle of April and planting dates closer to June ist. A
we have had our first glimpse of sun- potential problem canola has with
shine and spring temperatures in late planting is high green seed con-
Walsh County ..... they are a wel- tent at harvest. Canola is usually
comed site! Now Mother Nature can swathed in late August or early
begin the process of drying things September and this late planting
out for us. However, all the fields may not allow adequate time for it
around the county are still really wet to cure before a hard frost. This may
and the drying may not be soon lead to higher green seed content in
enough for producers to get into the the harvested seed. In addition,
fields and plant the crops they would eanola is very sensitive to heat fur-
like. So, we have to adjust. For this ing flowering and seed set. Late
week's column, I wanted to discuss planting may cause canola to be
some considerations to be made flowering in higher temperatures
when planting cool season crops, and decrease yields.The final recom-
more specifically; Flax, Canola and mended planting date for canola in
Field Peas. Walsh County is May 31st
Flax responds well to early plant- Field peas are also an early sea-
ing because early planting generally son crop and tend to do poorly or die
increases the period of bloom, in excessively wet or water logged
Seeding rates close to 42 . soils. Seeding peas in June may
pounds/acre wilt give seeding counts increase the risk of plants getting dis-
between 50 to 80 plants per square eases and decreasing yields. In addi-
foot which is considered ideal. Flax tion, planting later might cause the
yields drop dramatically as flax is plants to be flowering during the
planted later in the season, June hotter part of the year, which may
planting results in very low yields. It result in reduced pod and seed set.
takes approximately 90-100 days to In recent planting trials in
reach physiological maturity or the Carrington, Minot and Langdon; field
swathing stage when flax is seeded peas planted in early June produced
in June. The stems of June planted about 10 bushels an acre and May
flax will often stay green at the end planting produced between 40-50
of the season and makes swathing bushels per acre. The final recom-
difficult. Research from an 8 year mended planting date for field peas
planting study in Minot revealed that in Walsh County is May 25th.
flax planted in early June had With the excess moisture from
reduced yields of 27% when com- last fall and winter we can expect to
pared to early May plantings. When have later planting dates than nor-
planting was delayed to mid June mal. It may be important for produc-
yields were decreased nearly 60% ers to consider these later planting
when compared to early May plant- dates when planting their crops this
ings. If flax is planted later than mid year and choose crops that have the
June, yields of 8-12 bushels per acre highest chance for successful pro-
should be expected.Thefinal recom- duetion in the current conditions.
mended planting date for flax in Contact the extension office for
Walsh County is June 10th. additional information or with any
The production risk rises dramati- questions. -Marty
cally with canola as we approach
THE BUCKLE UPbATE
Walsh County Health District
SHORT SHOTS
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