Local farmers begin planning

ODESSA — Local farmers are gearing up to plant their crops within the next month.

Many factors play into when farmers plant, including how dry the ground is, how high or low the precipitation levels are and wheat prices.

For farmer Joe Bell of Reardan, planting started last fall and will continue this year when the weather is warmer.

“I planted winter wheat last fall,” Bell said. “Some soft white, club and winter Canola.”

Bell said this spring would be strictly soft white wheat all through.

“We can’t get out to the field just yet,” Bell said. “It’s been too wet.”

He said upon checking the soil temperature last week, it was 44 degrees, and he prefers it to be at least 50 before planting.

“I like to see it about 50 degrees,” Bell said. “That’s when things start growing. Then I can get out there to pre-plan and seed.”

Other farmers like Casey Nonnenmacher, whose farm is five miles east of Davenport, have already planted.

He said his farmers had already planted Kentucky Bluegrass seed this week.

“We’re planting yellow mustard,” Nonnenmacher said. “Food grade barley, food grade spring wheat, Kentucky Bluegrass seed and just regular spring wheat.”

Nonnenmacher said he plans on planting the rest in the next month as it warms up.

“Input costs can affect when we plant,” Nonnenmacher said.

He said crops could be put into the ground later if spring is too wet.

Ryan Higginbotham, Seed and Specialty Crops Manager of Highline Grain Growers, said wheat and barley are going into the ground throughout Lincoln County.

“Right now, it’s mostly wheat and barley,” Higginbotham said. “Primarily wheat.”

Higginbotham said the dryer southern part of the county had planted spring wheat.

“In that Odessa-type area with the dryer ground,” Higginbotham said. “They have planted spring wheat.”

He said he’s been patching and planting where the field didn’t make it last year.

“We’re not really into the traditional planting for our normal spring,” Higginbotham said. “The weather is still a little too cold.”