Considerations for ag producers as drought persists

As the dry November closes here are some considerations for agricultural producers. Dormant dryland seeding of perennial grass and forbs should not be planted with our current conditions. While the plants will not germinate (that is a good thing), Montana State University recommendation are for 18 inches of soil moisture for dryland seeding of perennials. With no soil moisture, producers would be better to wait and see if conditions improve in the spring of 2022 for a dryland perennial seeding.

Fertilizer prices have double since 2021 and with minimal or no growing season moisture for small grain crops planted in 2021, soil nutrients were left unused in the soil. Soil test would be useful to determine nutrient level and may allow for reduced fertilizer needed according to the soil fertility test result.

Nitrogen application in the form of urea (46-0-0) should only be made when predictable moisture is available in the amount of 0.50 inches or more. These moisture amount and infiltration of nitrogen into the soil profile is more likely in April and May than in December or January. If urea is applied to soil absent any moisture it will volatilize with losses of 30% or more, even under cold conditions.

According to the report from the Glasgow National Weather Station for Valley County year to date, they are showing only 45% of normal precipitation for 2021. If every 10 inches of snow yields an inch of moisture we may need as much as 4 feet of snow (4.8 inches of moisture) to refresh soil moisture levels and fill empty livestock reservoirs with runoff. Our long-term average (1970 to 2020) total moisture from November thought April is 3 inches, according to NOAA data.