Spring takes its sweet time

Across the valley, spring planting for some farmers like Wade Bingaman, above, may be off to a late start, but most agree there’s still plenty of time to catch up. The biggest concern may be that once the weather does warm up, it will turn too hot, too fast. - Observer Photos/Mardi Ford

At the north end of the valley, Imbler has had more than its fair share of wind, drifting snow and freezing temperatures.

Even so, seventh-generation farmer Wade Bingaman says the weather has not impacted his farming as much as it definitely could have.

Under the icy gaze of Mount Emily, Bingaman was planting a field of barley Wednesday. Looking west, he says, “My dad has made the comment he’s never seen that much snow left on the face of the mountain this late in the year.”

Bingaman says this winter has been the way it was when he was a kid.

“Even so, I really haven’t seen any winter crop damage. We’re a couple of weeks behind in planting, but it’ll catch up when it warms up,” he says.

For the past two weeks, Oregon State University Extension Agronomist Darrin Walenta has been planting his own field trials in wet, windy and snowy conditions. He agrees that March and April have been more typical for Northeast Oregon weather.

“In recent years, this same time period has become generally warmer and drier allowing field work to be carried out earlier and over a longer period of time,” he says.  

Seventh-generation farmer Wade Bingaman checks soil moisture, above, in a field he is planting with barley that fills the hopper of his seed drill, right. The drill plants at a controlled depth with accurate amounts for optimum yields. - Observer Photos/Mardi Ford

Sometimes, that progress is helped by simply the lay of the land.

On the south end of the valley, where the soil is sandier and dries out faster, farmer Matt Insko says the lingering winter weather has not had a huge impact. He already has his spring wheat planted.

And this time last year, Insko was already irrigating. So for him, the cooler, wetter weather has actually saved him a little money.

He believes the pivots that may be seen already running on the south end of the valley, are likely applying chemicals.

“And it could be they are adding a little moisture to the already dry top soil — especially if it’s a new grass seed field that’s just been planted,” he says.

Feather-light, tiny grass seed is planted just under the soil surface.

At the north end of the valley, Bingaman is still looking at plenty of moisture just below the surface of his soil. He says there could actually be too much water if it heats up too quickly considering the amount of snow left in the mountains.

“Did you see how the river came up last weekend when it warmed up for a couple days? There’s potential for some flooding out in this part of the valley if it warms up too fast,” he says.

But it does need to warm up some, or the seed Bingaman and Insko already have in the ground is not going to grow.

Fields of green winter wheat planted all over the valley last fall is already making its spring debut, poking its way through the brown soil of winter. Many farmers agree that this winter and spring the weather has returned to the more typical conditions of colder, wetter and longer than in recent years. - Observer Photos/Mardi Ford

The lingering cold, he says, is probably impacting sugar beet growers more than anyone. Sugar beet fields should have been planted by now, but with these freezing night temperatures, it’s just not happening.

Insko’s concern is also that temperatures will suddenly turn too hot too fast.

“Then the crops grow too fast and farmers can get caught off guard. You have a heckuva time staying on top of your fields when that happens,” he says.

“Older farmers are saying this is more normal than what we have been used to. So far, this weather has been a positive thing for me,” Insko says. “But it won’t be if it doesn’t warm up some pretty soon.”

He adds that the worst thing about the lingering winter weather is the affect it’s having on everybody’s attitude.

“Guys are just sick and tired of wearing three coats.”