Moisture Helps Farmers

Producers in southwestern North Dakota received a very nice surprise this spring Sarah Gustin takes us into wheat fields along the state line that look nothing like they usually do Julie Kramlich Adams County Extension Agent This year I have seen a little spark in them because it is green this year I have heard that comment it is green the grass is green the ditches even look full for hay Brad Derschan farms just northwest of Lemmon And this year it seems to be one of the wetter spots in the state And for this area it sounds like that is something they are just not used to Brad Derschan Lemmon Grain Farmer 04- and 06 have been dry We have been in a cycle where every other year it has been dry so 08 for us was really a nice surprse to get all that moisture early We were kinda bracing ourselves for a real dry year and preparing ourselves that way Julie Kramlich Adams County Extension Agent We had less rain and moisture in March and April but then come first of may we were hitting a couple times you know getting those couple inches we are not used hitting a couple inches at a shot Kramlich says in May and June alone Hettinger received about 8 inches of rain And for farmers more rain means more bushels in the bin Brad Derschan Lemmon Grain Farmer I think the biggest thing right now is with the prices because if you can put a 30-40 bushel winter wheat crop in with 8 or 9 dollar wheat that is something we have never seen Derschan says the spring wheat and sunflowers look good But what looks best is the winter wheat Brad Derschan Lemmon Grain Farmer The biggest thing is just the moisture early It really gave the winter wheat a heck a start We got a heck of a start on all spring grains like spring wheat sunflowers we still still need some moisture to finish that out but all in all it looks real promising But that doesn t mean they are out of the clear just yet Brad Derschan Lemmon Grain Farmer I think the winter wheat it will be really close with that there might be some quality concerns but as far as spring wheat corn and sunflowers they definitely we definitely need more moisture Northwest of Lemmon Reporting for KX News I am Sarah Gustin Derschan says in a typical year wheat crops in the area will average about 25 to 30 bushels an acre He says this year they are hoping for a 40 bushel crop