A cool, damp season has made way to a warm stretch for crops across the Dakotas. With a mixed bag of conditions in 2024, how is the crop actually looking?

Ryan Moeller, U.S. product manager of sunflower, wheat and field peas for WinField United, says that diseases are starting to appear in small grains and pulses prior to harvest. “There was a couple weeks where the canopies never dried out in our wheat and peas,” he says.

Due to the prolonged wet conditions, diseases are expected to be seen in some areas through the start of August.

Bring the heat

Much needed heat came along in mid-July to help the crop progress. “Conditions overall have been phenomenal,” Moeller says. “Up until lately, the wheat, peas and sunflower could’ve benefited from some more heat.”

Cooler temperatures combined with recent wildfire haze haven’t helped, but he says crops are getting the heat they need now.

“The corn looks really well, too,” he says. “It’s well established; it’s moving down with the moisture.”

With the central part of North Dakota not being short on soil moisture, Moeller shares that the current corn crop has a solid root base.

“We’re close to pollination for corn, probably here in the next couple weeks,” he explains. “We’re sitting in pretty good moisture conditions as we move east, so I expect to see some nitrogen issues potentially next spring.”

The wheat crop is benefiting from the recent heat, and Moeller says the yield is looking high. “There’s a large wheat crop out there for sure,” he says. “It had a pretty good growing season. The temperatures were OK during flowering, so we’re expecting some big yields. Hopefully, the protein comes with it.”