The barley field is quite the sight. We started very cold and dry. In may we had more nights of frost than nights with not. We have had only about 2 inches of rain this year and most of that in the last 2 weeks. This has lead to a patchy germination of the seed. The plants then sent up less tillers (smaller extra heads) than normal. When we recieved the rain the plants started making different decisions and either germinating or sending up 2-3 more heads. If we continue to have showers the plant will try to finish these new heads. To do this we will need no frost well into september if we are to finnish these heads. If we get hot dry weather the plant will adjust by not filling these new heads. To be honest we just have to wait and see what will happen.
The new twist for the year is that because it was so dry when we normally sprayed not all the weeds germinated when they were susposed to. With the latest rain we now have many broadleaf weeds starting to grow. We must spray them now or they will be in the way for harvest. We cannot swath because the crop is to short and we cannot kill the Roundup volunters with preharvest spray. Well no one said that every year would be the same.
Well thats where we are at.
Darryl Doell
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