The early spring melt has not put Winter Wheat plants in the southeast at risk.
John McGregor from Manitoba Agriculture says some producers are asking about excess moisture and are concerned about the plants drowning in puddles of water. He explains water sitting on top only affects cereals while they are growing and breathing but these plants are still dormant. Soil temperatures over the past few weeks only climbed to one and a half degrees so the soil never really had a chance to warm up. It takes 9 degrees to bring the wheat out of the dormant stage. While in their dormant state the wheat plants can sit under water for quite some time with little damage.