Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-06-10

\t/ spring wheat acreage still un-
Wv planted many farmers of the
state are deeply concerned with
the latest successful date for planting
spring wheat. In answer to this ques-
ton the June issue of the Montana
Agricultural Outlook" issued by the
Montana Extension Service, has the fol-
lowing to say:
Weather conditions have continued to
hamper planting operations. Much of
the summer titled LAND has been planted
but where the land had to be prepared
for planting. the situation is quite seri-
GUS. Farmers are therefore quite con-
cerned about what are likely to be the
most profitable methods to employ In the
emergency. Some Of the questions being
asked the county extension agents are
How late can spring wheat be planted
safely? Are there any other crops that
may be planted later than spring wheat
with a better chance OF proht2
These questions cannot be answered
definitely because OF the variable condi-
tons within the state and the seasonal
differences that are sometimes apt to up
set statements based on averages. How
ever. some OF the more important factors
may be dis .ssed with the hope that the
facts brought out may assist the indl-
vidual farmer in coming to a decision fol-
his W special conditions.
Available evidence indicates that the
best date Of seeding spring wheat varies
with the season. In general the seeding
period for best results is about 80 days
However, II planting is not done early the
land should be cultivated before seeding
Thus If at Havre the normal earliest
seeding date is April /. seeding may be
delayed until May / providing 1t Is pre-
coded by cultivation. If seeding is de-
layed more than 80 days a reduced CROP
generally may be expected, and the pos
sibility for crop reduction advances as
the seeding Is delayed.
One. OF the cauSeS OF reduced Yields
from delayed season is that the Towering
period OF the wheat plant comes during
a hotter part OF the season. The CROP
takes less time to complete its growth
but this usually Is accomplished at the
expense OF crop yield n quality. In
lower attitudes of the state where there
! is less danger of early fall frosts, O spring
wheat like Marquis will require roughly
from 90 to 100 days from planting time
to harvest. Where the average date OF
the first fall frost is about September Is
and wheat requires from 30 to 100 days
TO mature, seeding may delayed to as late
as June 10 to is and still avoid frosted
wheat in the average year. However. the
late paintings will cause reduced yields.
In the higher attitudes of the state the
conditions are entirely different. Even
though the average date of the first frost
in the fall may be as late as September
Is, because of the limited number of heat
units during the growing season. a longer
period is required for maturity. ranging
from los to lis days. Late planting In
this case means greatly reduced yields
increased danger Of frosted wheat and
consequent lower price and quality.
Feed supplies are quite low at the
present time and emergency feed crops
may be very desirable. Small grain hays
grown In Montana are far superior tc
similar hays grown in the middle west
If late planted spring grain does not turn
out satisfactorily it may still prove valu-
able for feed purposes On farms where
feed is needed and can be utilized tc
good advantage. Oats n barley Offer
feed crop possibilities as well as wheat
Oats are higher in yield but are apt tc
be rather washy. Beardless barley. there
fore. is gaining in favor. Grain hays may
be planted quite safely in late June ex-
cept in the higher attitudes.
In the eastern part of the state flax
may be planted with safety until June
90 with less chance of a great reduction
in yield as would be the case If spring
wheat were planted as late as this.