The very dry conditions of 2017 have raised the awareness of soil moisture for area farmers. While soil moisture is always closely monitored and often a lively topic of pre-planting conversation, it may be even more so this year because soil moisture was in very short supply over a wide region of North Dakota last fall.

Much of the state was designated as being in various stages of drought by the United States Drought Monitor, with thousands of acres considered to be in severe drought. In many areas of the state crops were stunted and pastures provided little forage for livestock. Some late fall rains and spring snowfall has raised expectations for growers, but more change may be needed to make up for moisture lost in 2017.

“It is still dry out there. These snows the past couple of weeks have been good, but we still need a good chunk of moisture to get us back to normal,” said Chris Augustin, soil scientist, NDSU Extension Service.

Soil moisture certainly varies from one area to another. In southern Saskatchewan, where spring snowfall has fallen similar to what has been received south of the U.S./Canadian border, soil moisture is very much a hot topic of discussion.

“In this part of the world we’re not so sure about soil moisture,” said Lana Shaw, research manager, Southeast Research Farm at Redvers Sask. “Decisions on crop inputs and the price of the crop you are putting in the ground become really hard when there’s not much soil moisture in the bank. You are not sure what you are going to get.”

Fortunately, there’s still ample time to make final decisions on what to plant and where. One consideration that should factor into planting decisions, says Augustin, is soil condition. Many soil tests taken in the Minot area last fall contained abnormally high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus.

“More than you would expect,” said Augustin.

The lack of moisture last year meant that nitrogen and phosphorus usually carried away by “water pathways” remained in the ground.

“My recommendation for farmers is, follow what your soil test says,” said Augustin. “The big take home is be consistent.”

Some growers prefer to test their soils in the spring, others in the fall. Doing soil testing at approximately the same time each year allows for a historical timeline for comparison.

As for soil moisture conditions, Augustin says it shouldn’t keep anybody out of the field.

“Farmers are still going to plant. They know their fields better than anyone else,” remarked Augustin. “Generally most of our farmers are putting down fertilizer when they plant. Some might try some side dressing such as nitrogen applications if we get some good moisture.”

Dick Roland, long-time owner of Legume Logic in Crosby, recalls attending seminars in the 1990’s when conditions were similar to what they were in 2017.

“We were dry with grasshoppers and all kinds of things,” said Roland. “We have new farmers, young farmers that understand what happened then. We need to work together and be positive. These guys understand that.”

Long-range weather forecasts call for cooler than normal temperatures through June. If that proves true it will mean less evaporation of soil moisture than what would normally be expected to occur in the Minot area.