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Prospects high for Minnesota small grains

Prospects are high for emerging small grains across Minnesota.

University of Minnesota Extension small grains agronomist Jochum Wiersma says planting began in earnest after Easter weekend, and despite some frigid mornings, crops look good.

“There are very few stand problems overall in small grains. It took a while for the earlier stuff to get up and accumulate heat units, but none of it really froze out.”

He tells Brownfield small grains planted later in April look good too.

“The biggest problem I’ve seen is compaction behind tire tracks and a little bit delayed emergence and thinner stands in those tracks. But overall, I think stands are excellent.”

Wiersma says he’s never seen better seed beds, and most crops were planted into moisture.

The latest USDA crop report shows spring wheat emergence at 84 percent, with 78 percent of the crop rated good to excellent.

Oats are 21 percent jointed and rated 68 percent good to excellent. 

Barley is 7 percent jointed, with 79 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition.