By Scout Nelson
In North Dakota, farmers and ranchers are on edge as this year's wild winter weather puts their forage crops to the test. With a significant lack of snow cover leaving crops like rye and triticale vulnerable to the cold, there's growing concern over how these plants will fare.
According to James Rogers, a forage crops expert from North Dakota State University, rye stands out for its ability to withstand cold, growing even at temperatures as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Triticale, a rye-wheat hybrid, finds itself somewhere in the middle, less hardy than rye but more resilient than wheat.
As the mercury soared to the 50s this spring, forage crops experienced a burst of growth, only to be hit by a sudden freeze, dropping temperatures into the teens.
This rollercoaster weather pattern has raised alarms about potential damage, especially to crops that hadn't fully hardened before winter set in.
Yet, Rogers remains optimistic, citing that well-established plants with a chance to harden and tiller before winter have a strong chance of surviving.
Research from the North Central Research Extension Center in Minot supports this optimism. An examination of rye and winter wheat after a sharp temperature drop revealed significant differences.
Rye, with its growth point nestled safely at the base of the tiller, showed signs of resilience with healthy roots and new tiller formation, despite some freeze-damaged leaves. Winter wheat, on the other hand, suffered more noticeable damage, doubting its forage production potential.
As spring approaches, monitoring crop growth points is crucial. A simple test involves cutting a tiller at soil level. A hollow stem below this point indicates a vulnerable phase. With snow cover providing protection, the main threat may shift from cold to potential ground heaving damage.
It's still early days, and while the threat of freeze damage looms, there's hope that with careful management and a bit of luck, North Dakota's forage crops will pull through another challenging season.
Photo Credit -gettyimages-vadven
Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Weather