Heat units to date are similar to last year putting most crops about 2 weeks ahead of normal. Winter wheat harvest is complete with both white and red yields being above expectations and coming in mostly disease free. Spring barley and wheat also look good although there is some head and leaf disease apparent. The corresponding good crop of straw has put downward pressure on its price. Winter canola harvest has produced yields in excess of one ton to the acre.
All varieties appear to have pressure from aphids and diamondback moths.
Premature senescence and shattering of pods at harvest could be indicators of earlier moth larvae feeding. Growers should make note of areas with sclerotinia injury so that these fields are not rotated into susceptible crops such as sunflowers, white beans or soybeans. Hay harvest continues to make an abundance of forage available in most areas. Regrowth has been very slow in some fields due to moisture stress and weevil damage this spring. Many underseedings look poor after nurse crop removal.