USA - Warm weather bad for winter wheat crop

Many in the southern Great Plains are getting a respite from the winter cold, but winter wheat growers are concerned. Winter wheat is exposed and with signs pointing toward more cold coming to the Great Plains, the Midwest, the South, and the Northeast next week, that is a continuing concern especially in areas where the crop may have been coaxed out of dormancy by temperatures this week that have reached or will reach the 80s. If the wheat did respond, farmers must go out and play "lullabies" to keep the wheat sleeping until the cold returns.

Many in the southern Great Plains are getting a respite from the winter cold, but winter wheat growers are concerned.

"Not something we like to see. Winter wheat is exposed and with signs pointing toward more cold coming to the Great Plains, the Midwest, the South, and the Northeast next week, that is a continuing concern especially in areas where the crop may have been coaxed out of dormancy by temperatures this week that have reached or will reach the 80s," said Brad Rippey, meteorologist for the United States Agriculture Department.

If the wheat did respond, farmers must go out and play "lullabies" to keep the wheat sleeping until the cold returns.

The warmth has caused other concerns.

"That sucks what limited moisture there is out of the soil," said Rippey.

Growers in the Southern Plains need every bit of soil moisture they can since the area is still not out of the woods for drought conditions.

Source - http://www.rfdtv.com/