Update from the Field: Stand Up for Wheat
Posted by David Dyson, Agronomist on March 26, 2018
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Evaluating wheat stands early in the spring can be a challenge in a normal year. We just came out of an extremely dry fall where we experienced very poor germination and reduced stands. With only a week into spring, we are seeing erratic temperature swings, heavy snow/ice, and severe rain storms. Growers are asking themselves, “Should I keep this crappy field of wheat, or should I burn it down and plant corn?” The corn option is a good alternative, as fall fertilizer that was put on wheat fields would be utilized by the corn, which would avoid the loss of any investment. Let us explore what makes a suitable wheat stand.
Starting out with a proper wheat stand begins with fertilizing for success. My standard recommendation for fertilizer prior to planting is 100 lb/ac of potash, 100 lb/ac of MAP, and 100 lb/ac of AMS. The next area of focus is planting the correct population. Michigan State University recommends a seeding rate between 1.4 and 2.2 million seeds per acre. I like to recommend right down the middle at 1.7 million seeds per acre. With the proper fertilizer at planting and the correct population, the wheat plant will start the tiller process around the first of the year. Feekes 4-5 is the proper time to count the main stems and the tillers (Figure 1). Once you count the main stems and all of the tillers, you can compare the results to a chart The Ohio State University has put together to predict yields from the number of stems per square foot (Figure 2).
Figure 1: This picture by Ohio State University shows the main stem and a tiller of a wheat plant.
Figure 2: Wheat Yield prediction chart from Ohio State University.
The decision can still be made to switch to corn, even after topdressing the wheat crop with 28% nitrogen. Adding UltraMate® LQ to the 28% application not only protects the nitrogen, but can also give growers options. Deciding to switch will protect investments in nitrogen and provide credits that can be used for the corn crop.
In conclusion, make sure that you make an accurate count of how many wheat stems you have per square foot. I recommend at least 90 stems per square foot. Otherwise, you should be considering a switch to corn. It’s not too late to switch a field from a sub-par stand of wheat to corn. Promote putting an additive in your topdress to stabilize and protect your nitrogen investment.
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Dave Dyson is a regional agronomist for The Andersons’ Farm Centers which are located throughout Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. He is an Indiana native and grew up on a dairy farm in Miami County. A graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Crop & Soil Science, Dave has a deep knowledge of various agronomic topics and is committed to helping growers improve their crops. If you have any questions, Dave can be reached at david_dyson@andersonsinc.com.
UltraMate is a registered trademark of The Andersons, Inc.
