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Moisture helps SD crop conditions and weed control

In southeast South Dakota, farmer Kevin Scott says the corn and soybeans look good thanks, in part, to timely rains.

“Continued rains would be great, but we have decent moisture.”

USDA says South Dakota’s corn is rated 64 percent good to excellent. Soybeans are rated 59 percent good to excellent.

Scott says the rain has also made it a better spring to manage weeds.

“The pre-emergence herbicides worked in our area. The suppression was much better this year compared to last year. We had some rains that actived everything.”

But he says an early spring can bring other weed management challenges.

“When you plant soybeans early, the pre-emergence herbicides don’t last later into the season so the post-emergence spray is earlier. You need coverage and the rows to cover so the weed control can speed up a bit. That’s what we’re looking for right now.”

Scott says there have been some patches of waterhemp that could also be tricky to control.

Other South Dakota farmers continue to plant sorghum and sunflowers at 79 percent and 43 percent complete, respectively.

USDA says more than half of South Dakota’s winter wheat is headed with the crop rating increasing slightly at 32 percent good to excellent.