Hot, dry September weather is creating problems for Kingfisher County small grain producers.

At this point, fall seeding operations are normally in high gear, but many producers are waiting for moisture to begin sowing.

A few are dusting in their fields, hoping for moisture to get the new crop up and growing.

There are some fields with enough moisture to get the crop up to a stand, County Extension Director-agricultural educator Bryan Kennedy said, but producers are concerned about moisture to sustain the new crop after that.

Substantial fall rains would be very welcome at this point.

The county has received no measurable precipitation at this point in September.

The high cost of seed, fertilizer, fuel and other input costs are cause for producers to carefully consider their seeding operations, Kennedy pointed out.

He said those producers who depend on wheat pasture for livestock are particularly affected. They need to get the crop sown in time to take advantage of warmer temperatures before cold weather puts plants in dormancy.

Those who grow wheat for harvest alone have more time to decide what to do.

The dry conditions pose additional concerns for producers.

Those who have seedbeds tilled fine and ready for sowing face the chance of wind erosion if the rains don’t come.

“If we have a dry winter, topsoil could wind up in the fence rows,” he said.

He said the cool temperature that arrived Tuesday – the day before the official arrival of autumn – is helpful but rain is the major need.

He said there are questions if rain arrives soon, such as how much time will the crop have to grow before it becomes dormant due to freezing temperatures.

“If Mother Nature would help us out, we could still be all right, but it is getting late,” he said.

Kennedy said continued hot, dry weather could trigger a second armyworm invasion on newly-sown fields.

While numbers are down from a late August invasion, there are still some around.

He said mungbean harvesters in the Dover area found armyworm signs on the outside rows.