North Dakota planting surged last week. How did farmers do it?

According to Monday’s Crop Progress report, planting in North Dakota surged the week ending May 19. Farmers in the state weighed in on how.

The numbers speak for themselves

According to USDA, corn planted by North Dakota farmers rose to 51% last week. That is more than double the percentage the week prior (22%) and 15 percentage points above the five-year average.

Soybeans planted also increased significantly. As of May 19, 33% of North Dakota’s anticipated soybean crop was in the ground, an increase of 26 points from the week prior. That’s also markedly ahead of the five-year average of 24%. These numbers are significant in their own right, but even more so considering farmers in the state had 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork for the week. 

Following the same trend, the state’s spring wheat planted increased remarkably last week. As of May 19, North Dakota farmers had planted 71% of the state’s expected spring wheat, up 22 points from the week prior and overshadowing the five-year average of 53%.

Other notable increases for the state last week were in barley, oats, sugarbeets, and sunflowers. Farmers’ efforts caused barley planted to increase to 65%, a 28 point increase for the week and a 16 points higher than the five-year average.

Oats planted increased to 59%, a 22 point increase for the week and 10 points higher than the five-year average.

As for sugarbeets, 97% of the crop had been planted as of May 19. That’s a 5 point increase compared to the week prior and up 24 points compared to the five-year average. Finally, USDA said 19% of the sunflower crop had been planted (the first reported of the season), which is an 11 points ahead of the five-year average.

The farmers speak for themselves

Farmers across the state weighed in on how they achieved such impressive planting success last week.

Carie Marshall-Moore farms along with her husband in Egeland, North Dakota. She confirmed from her perspective that the state is ahead in planting. Marshall-Moore said that the rainfall they have experienced has been light enough that it prevents them from being in the field for only about 24 hours, and this has given them an edge. “Because we’ve been so dry, it has all soaked in,” said Marshall-Moore.

When it comes to her family specifically, Marshall-Moore shared her son’s involvement is biggest part of why their planting is ahead. “He’s pretty much done all the seeding this year.” Noting the benefit of having her son play a part, Marshall-Moore said, “Just having that extra hand has helped us go significantly faster.”

Whether they will continue to make rapid progress will depend largely on the weather Marshall-Moore said. Her region is expecting rain on Friday this week, so she’s hoping they can wrap up before then. “We’re not slowing down. If we can get everything in and then get that rain, that’s going to be perfect,” she said. As for the outlook on crops for the year, Marshall-Moore said, “We’re pretty optimistic.”

Peter Ness raises wheat, soybeans, corn, and sunflowers on the eastern side of North Dakota. He finished planting in the middle of last week. When compared to a typical year for him, that’s ahead by about a week. He credited this in part to the conditions that the fall and winter weather set up for his region. “We were really dry last fall. We had zero snow cover this winter. So, we had a lot of the wheat and some of the corn [planted] in April.” 

Besides the weather, Ness also recognized the role that larger equipment has played in getting the crop planted more quickly. “I think guys are realizing that it’s important to get this crop in early … if that takes bigger, faster equipment, that’s what it’s going to take.”

Cory Palm farms wheat, soybeans, and sugarbeets east of Cummings, North Dakota. The farmer finished seeding May 21, which is definitely ahead of the game for him personally. Last year, he did not start planting until the middle of May because of late-season storms.

Palm described the ideal rainfall that his region has experienced as playing a part in getting the crop in the ground. “We’ve had timely rains and we’ve had some nice rains.” He described instances of overnight rain that provided critical moisture but were light enough to allow for fieldwork by the afternoon hours. “That has helped us a bunch,” he said, adding, “We can’t get a full day in, but we’ve been going later.”

Palm primarily credits the state’s recent success in planting, like Ness, to larger equipment. “That’s probably the biggest reason for everybody and the reason why the numbers jumped up so much last week.” He also described how important upgrades in technology have been: “Everything from row shut offs to section control to … bigger equipment,” he said. “It’s the little things that have added up.”