Home / Guides / Field Crops, Grains & Oilseeds
Field Crops, Grains & OilseedsField Crop Planting Calendar for the Northern Plains
On the Northern Plains the growing season is short and spring is unpredictable, so planting plans lean on soil conditions, frost risk and the last date a crop can still make a good yield.
Key points
- Northern Plains planting plans depend on frost risk, soil conditions and last recommended planting dates.
- Small grains and some oilseeds go first, with corn and soybeans following.
- Late planting often reduces small grain yields, according to NDSU Extension.
- Do not work wet soil, since compaction can linger.
- Check your crop insurance final planting dates and keep records.
What makes Northern Plains planting different?
North Dakota, South Dakota and neighboring areas have cold winters, late spring frosts and a shorter frost-free season than the central Corn Belt. Spring can be wet, delaying fieldwork, or cold, slowing germination. Small grains and cool-season oilseeds often go in first, followed by corn and soybeans, though the order depends on the farm.
Because of this, the dates that matter are local. Check your state extension service and your county's average frost dates. The USDA NASS Crop Progress reports for North Dakota and South Dakota show how planting is advancing compared with other years.
Variety maturity matters more here than in longer seasons. A hybrid or variety that needs more heat than your area usually provides can leave grain wet or immature in fall, so ask extension which maturities have worked locally.
Which crops go in first?
Spring wheat, barley and oats tolerate cooler soils and are generally seeded early, as NDSU Extension publications on optimum planting dates describe. Canola and other small-seeded oilseeds also benefit from early seeding but need attention to seed depth and soil moisture. Corn and soybeans typically follow when soils have warmed and the worst frost risk has passed.
Confirm the recommended range for each crop with NDSU or SDSU Extension, since dates differ across the north and south of the region.
Many farms also grow flax, sunflowers, peas, lentils and other crops, each with its own window. Pull the planting guide for each crop from your state extension service rather than assuming they share a date.
- Small grains: early, as soon as fields are fit
- Small-seeded oilseeds: early but shallow
- Corn: after soils warm
- Soybeans: after frost risk has eased
How do late plantings affect small grains?
NDSU Extension has published guidance that planting small grains late can reduce yields, and it provides information on optimum and last planting dates for several crops. The reasoning is simple: later planting often means that grain fills during hotter weather and gives the crop less time before fall frost.
If spring is delayed, look at the last recommended planting date for each crop in your area and compare your options. Your crop insurance policy also has final planting dates, so read it and ask your agent.
How do you decide when fields are fit?
Soil that is too wet can be compacted by equipment, which can damage yield for several seasons. Squeeze a handful of soil. If it forms a ball that does not crumble when poked, the soil is probably too wet to work.
Heavy residue and snow cover can also keep fields cold. A day or two of patience often does less damage than planting into poor conditions.
If rain keeps you out of the field, make a list of fields in the order they dry out. Sandier knolls and well-drained ground usually come first, and heavy low spots last.
How should you plan around frost?
Use your average last spring frost date and the forecast to decide how early to plant frost-sensitive crops. Small grains and canola tolerate more cold than corn and soybeans, but even they have limits once they are well emerged.
For example, if your last spring frost usually falls in mid-May, you would plant tender crops after that date with a margin, and plant hardy crops earlier. This is only an example of the method. Confirm local numbers with your extension office.
Late frost after emergence is not always fatal. Check the growing point of the plant a day or two after the frost to see whether it is firm and green before deciding to replant.
What about moisture and drought?
Much of the western Plains is semi-arid, and water often decides yield. Seed depth, soil moisture and residue management matter. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows current conditions.
Fertility and weed control must fit moisture conditions too. Use soil tests and local recommendations, and follow herbicide labels. Applicator licensing varies by state.
If you are in an area with saline soils or wet spots, drought can still show up on the high ground while low ground stays wet, so manage each field part separately.
How do you keep a useful planting record?
Record the date you started, soil conditions, seeding depth, emergence date and any frost or hail. Compare across years.
Review those records each winter and decide whether your plan needs adjusting, such as a shorter-season variety or a different crop order.
A spreadsheet that holds one row per field and one column per year is enough. Add a column for notes about frost and hail so you can see how the weather shaped each season.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.