http://www.rrfn.com en-us Copyright© 2013 Red River Farm Network Sat, 25 May 2013 06:34:20 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9514 In the Drayton, North Dakota area, Scott Weinlaeder doesn’t have as much planted as he’d like to see. Weinlaeder says the area was wet last fall so they were behind from the start. "Some growers left some beets in the ground and they seeded soybeans or wheat into those beets. When it's dry, it's not so bad, but when it gets wet like this I'm not sure how that's going to work," Weinlaeder said, "All the growers want to get their crop planted, it's just a matter of what kind of weather we get to make that advantageous." RRFN's Crop Watch is sponsored, in part, by the North Dakota Farmers Union. Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9532 In the Rothsay, Minnesota area, Kurt Krueger was just getting a good start before last week's rain. "Ask my neighbors and they'll tell you I'm always the last one to wrap up here, but for the neighborhood, everybody was wrapping up corn, sugarbeets and there is a good start to soybeans." Kruger says the Rothsay area saw about four inches of rain in the week-ago rains. RRFN's Crop Watch is sponsored, in part, by Minnesota Soybean Farmers and the Soybean Checkoff. Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9510 Assuming the weather straightens out, Darryl Berg at Walhalla Bean Company says growers priority will be sugarbeets. He’s wondering if any dry edible beans will get planted before June 1. "It's going to be tough. A lot of growers don't have all of their wheat in or their other crops," Berg said, "It's going to be a mad dash that's for sure." RRFN's Crop Watch is sponsored, in part, by AgCountry Farm Credit Services. Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9549 In the Minot area, Dakota Agronomy Partners agronomist Mike Benjamin says growers are starting to venture back into the field. "We're starting to have a few guys get going again. We got our floaters going again on Thursday. The rain varied from 2 to 6 inches in our trade inches, some fields look like the lake and some are able to go again," Benjamin said, "Hopefully the rain will stay away and we can keep guys rolling." With the crop insurance deadline for corn tomorrow in many locations, Benjamin says some acres are being switched to soybeans or sunflowers. Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9551 Rugby, North Dakota area farmer Steve Fritel is back planting after the rain delay. Fritel is making good planting progress. "We finished our corn on Thursday. Right now we're on the tail end of getting the wheat in, another day or so and we'll get the wheat wrapped up," Fritel said, "Then we'll move on and look at getting some soybeans and pinto beans in the ground." Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9546 Peterson Farms Seed agronomist Adam Spelhaug says the early planted crops are looking good after the rain. "From the first week of May, we're up to about 230 growing degree days, which is about 100 more than you need for emergence. A lot of the stuff that was planted before May 10 is pushing through now and my May 6 soybeans are pushing through a little bit of crust that developed," Spelhaug said, "Most of the rain wasn't too pounding that we got, so that was nice. It was a nice rain for everything that was in the ground." Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9550 Dairyland Seed district sales manager Keith Rekow says planters are rolling again in southern North Dakota and northern South Dakota. "They were doing really well. The corn planting was ahead of what the state averages were for North and South Dakota in the territory I cover," Rekow said, "I'd say corn is 98 percent done in northern South Dakota and even southern North Dakota they've been working on beans now. We've got some corn with two leaves now and other corn is spiking." Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9548 Planting progress in the Wadena, Minnesota area varies, depending on soil type. Leaf River Ag general manager Scott Dau expects some adjustments in the acreage mix. "I think some of those acres are going to be moved from corn to beans, in some cases they may consider sunflowers. Also, depending on how they have their crop insurance set up they may take prevented plant," Dau said, "Everybody is staying away from that topic. It's on their mind and they're thinking about it, but they'd sure like to get this crop in if they could." Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9509 With the moisture, some planting plans are being adjusted. Croplan marketing manager Mark Torno says that is evident across northern North Dakota. "I've had some interest in committing to canola; not a lot of people, but, a few people that haven't traditionally planted corn that are considering coming back to canola," Torno said, "We've also moved back some of those canola dates. I think people have seen that late planting canola can be quit profitable, whether the insurance is there or not." Moving west, Torno says sunflowers remain an excellent option. Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://rrfn.com/news.php#9544 Monsanto has launched the Insect Forecast Tool for 2013. Farmers can go online to track current pest pressure.  Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500