May 23rd, 2025

Hello!

It’s been a wild ride weather-wise across the Red River Valley lately, and the crops are definitely showing it. We’ve gone from sweating in 39°C heat to a touch of frost just a couple days later. That kind of swing — almost 40 degrees in two days — is hard on everything, especially the young seedlings that are just trying to get established.  More crop updates below! ⬇️

Have a wonderful weekend,

Bru, Jenn and the team!

Crop Conditions

Overall, we’re seeing a mixed bag out there. Some fields are hanging in pretty well, all things considered, but others are looking rough.

Corn, in particular, is taking a beating. Between the cold and the pounding rains, some plants are looking pale and wind-beaten, and we’re seeing signs of slowed development. It’s early, so we’re not hitting the panic button yet, the growing point is still below the surface. 

Soybeans are starting to emerge in places, but some of those cotyledons aren’t looking too happy. We’re seeing a bit of stress, likely from excess moisture. There's also a slight risk of frost damage with those cooler overnight temps, though hopefully we dodged the worst of that.

Crusting Concerns

One of the big things to watch right now is crusting. With all the heavy rain we’ve had, a lot of fields have sealed over. If we get a couple of hot, sunny days in a row without more rain, some of these young seedlings could have a hard time breaking through. If you're seeing uneven emergence or dry cracks on the surface, it might be worth checking for a crust starting to form. If you’re unsure about what you’re seeing in your fields, give us a shout. We’re out and about every day and happy to stop in.

Weed Pressure

We’re not seeing weeds explode yet, and we think that’s due to the cold weather. Just like the crops, the weeds seem to have hit the brakes. But don’t let that lull you into thinking they’re gone — they're just waiting for the next stretch of warm weather to take off. Residual herbicides are still doing some work, but it’s going to be important to keep scouting as temps rise.

Patience Required

We’re in a bit of a holding pattern until we get some consistent sunshine and warmth.  For now, it’s all about keeping a close eye and not jumping the gun.

Question of the Week:

Do we have compaction issues in the Red River Valley or just poor Drainage?

Thank you to everyone who continues to send in their agronomy-related questions for Field Talk Friday.

Have a question? Send it our way by clicking HERE.

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