Bitter cold hikes crop concerns

With the recent below-zero temperatures the winter wheat crop could suffer some losses because of the absence of snow cover.

Steve Van Vleet, WSU Regional Extension Special-ist, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Natural Resources, based in Colfax, said the cold weather definitely could be a issue.

“With the winds last weekend, it could create a major problem for the winter wheat,” he said.

Van Vleet said that the area around Pullman, Colton and Uniontown has enough snow to protect winter crops.

“But not as you get above Colfax or LaCrosse, it could cause a lot of problems,” he said.

“There definitely could be some damage,” he said.

Van Vleet said if the plants freeze to ground level, they could come back, but if they freeze down to the growing tip of the plant, about a half inch to one inch below the ground, the plants likely won’t survive.

A good amount of snow on top of seeded fields insulates the young plants from winter’s cold. Without that insulation, the plants may not make it.

“There might be a lot of reseeding this spring,” he said.