The lack of snow cover in South Dakota during mid November this year isn’t a huge concern for SDSU Extension Field Agronomist David Karki. He says while a cover of snow can help when temperatures drop below zero, the recent mild fall weather shouldn’t be a major worry yet.
He says cooler temperatures are beneficial for winter wheat which makes it different from spring wheat.
Karki says what much of the winter wheat could use now is some moisture.
Karki says better survival of winter wheat occurs when it is no till seeded into crop stubble and plants in the fall are 3 to 4 tiller stage before going into winter. He says the crop stubble helps catch the snow throughout the winter and forms an insulating blanket increasing significantly the chances of winter survival.
