Wheat Production & Management Ed Twidwell Ed Twidwell LSU AgCenter LSU AgCenter School of Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences School of Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences

Wheat production in Louisiana: Wheat acreage fluctuates with price Wheat acreage fluctuates with price Last 10 years, acreage has been between 100,000 & 150,000 acres Last 10 years, acreage has been between 100,000 & 150,000 acres In 1985 acreage was about 500,000 acres In 1985 acreage was about 500,000 acres Expecting over 300,000 acres to be planted in 2007 Expecting over 300,000 acres to be planted in 2007

Type of Wheat Grown in Louisiana Soft red winter wheat Soft red winter wheat Used for cakes, pastries, crackers Used for cakes, pastries, crackers This wheat is grown throughout the southern USA up through Illinois & Indiana This wheat is grown throughout the southern USA up through Illinois & Indiana Other types: hard red winter, hard red spring, & white wheat are grown in other regions Other types: hard red winter, hard red spring, & white wheat are grown in other regions

Advantages of Producing Wheat Provides cash flow in the late spring Provides cash flow in the late spring Works well in a double-cropping system with soybeans Works well in a double-cropping system with soybeans Reduces soil erosion during the winter and spring months Reduces soil erosion during the winter and spring months

Problems With Growing Wheat Wheat is not treated as a major crop by many producers Wheat is not treated as a major crop by many producers Difficult environmental conditions: Difficult environmental conditions: Wet soils during the fall & winter Wet soils during the fall & winter High humidity during the spring High humidity during the spring Excessive rainfall prior to harvest Excessive rainfall prior to harvest

Key Point In order for wheat to be grown successfully in Louisiana: In order for wheat to be grown successfully in Louisiana: It needs to be treated as a major crop! It needs to be treated as a major crop!

Land Selection Wheat does not tolerate poor drainage very well Wheat does not tolerate poor drainage very well Wheat should be planted on the most well- drained soils available Wheat should be planted on the most well- drained soils available

Land Preparation Conventional: Conventional: Seedbed preparation should be thorough enough to incorporate existing vegetation and permit uniform planting Seedbed preparation should be thorough enough to incorporate existing vegetation and permit uniform planting

Seeding Rate LSU Ag Center recommended rate is 60 to 120 pounds/acre, depending upon conditions LSU Ag Center recommended rate is 60 to 120 pounds/acre, depending upon conditions A rate of pounds/acre should be sufficient if high quality seed is selected and planted into a good seedbed with adequate moisture A rate of pounds/acre should be sufficient if high quality seed is selected and planted into a good seedbed with adequate moisture For any seedbed that is “less than ideal”, the seeding rate should be adjusted upwards between 75 and 120 pounds/acre For any seedbed that is “less than ideal”, the seeding rate should be adjusted upwards between 75 and 120 pounds/acre

Louisiana Research Seed rateYieldPlantsTillers --lb/A---bu/A-#/sq ft#/plant Mascagni et. al

Arkansas Research Seeding rate (lb/A)Yield (bu/A) Seeding rate (lb/A)Yield (bu/A)

Seeding Method Drill: Preferred Method Drill: Preferred Method Reduces seeding rate (60-75 pounds/A) Reduces seeding rate (60-75 pounds/A) Ensures good soil-to-seed contact Ensures good soil-to-seed contact Provides excellent control of seeding depth Provides excellent control of seeding depth Provides more uniform stands Provides more uniform stands

Broadcasting: Widely Used Broadcast seed and then harrow or disk the seed into the ground Broadcast seed and then harrow or disk the seed into the ground Major problem: random seeding depth and soil is not firmed around the seeds Major problem: random seeding depth and soil is not firmed around the seeds Firming the soil after seeding with a cultipacker may help Firming the soil after seeding with a cultipacker may help Seeding rate: At least pounds/acre Seeding rate: At least pounds/acre

No-till Could be a useful seeding method on highly erodible soils or in wet soil conditions Could be a useful seeding method on highly erodible soils or in wet soil conditions Research studies from several states show little or no yield differences between conventional and no-till plantings Research studies from several states show little or no yield differences between conventional and no-till plantings

No-till, cont. No-till planting into soybean residue is ideal No-till planting into soybean residue is ideal Residue management is important with corn Residue management is important with corn May need to increase seeding rate by 10% if planting into heavy residue May need to increase seeding rate by 10% if planting into heavy residue

Planting Date North Louisiana: October 15 to November 15 North Louisiana: October 15 to November 15 Central & South Louisiana: November 1 to 30 Central & South Louisiana: November 1 to 30

Major Problem Growers typically want to plant wheat before the recommended planting dates Growers typically want to plant wheat before the recommended planting dates They do so because they worry about excessive fall rains keeping them from planting wheat on time or not at all They do so because they worry about excessive fall rains keeping them from planting wheat on time or not at all

Early-Planted Wheat Excessive fall and winter growth makes wheat more prone to spring freezes Excessive fall and winter growth makes wheat more prone to spring freezes Excessive fall and early spring growth can make wheat more prone to early spring wheat diseases Excessive fall and early spring growth can make wheat more prone to early spring wheat diseases Don’t fertilize too heavy with N initially Don’t fertilize too heavy with N initially

Late-Planted Wheat Yields can be reduced if planting is delayed until mid-December Yields can be reduced if planting is delayed until mid-December Late-planted wheat study in Late-planted wheat study in Planting dates of normal (early November) & late (mid-December) at 4 locations Planting dates of normal (early November) & late (mid-December) at 4 locations Normal: Mean yield of 44 bushels/A Normal: Mean yield of 44 bushels/A Late: Mean yield of 32 bushels/A Late: Mean yield of 32 bushels/A

Recommendation If growers insist on planting early, they must make sure they DO NOT plant an early- maturing variety If growers insist on planting early, they must make sure they DO NOT plant an early- maturing variety They should plant a later-maturing variety They should plant a later-maturing variety Can look at the LSU AgCenter website for data on heading dates Can look at the LSU AgCenter website for data on heading dates

Wheat Varieties for Louisiana VarietyMaturity VarietyMaturity LA 482Early AGS 2000Early LA 841Early USG 3209Medium Pioneer 26R61Medium Coker 9553Late TV 8558Late PanolaLate

Recommendation The early-maturing varieties should be planted during the recommended planting dates or later The early-maturing varieties should be planted during the recommended planting dates or later

Planting Depth A depth of about 1 to 1.5 inches is adequate A depth of about 1 to 1.5 inches is adequate Depth (in.)Emergence (%)

Freeze Damage Mainly a problem with early-planted wheat Mainly a problem with early-planted wheat Difficult to assess because freezing frequently injures only part of the wheat spike or only plants in certain parts of the field Difficult to assess because freezing frequently injures only part of the wheat spike or only plants in certain parts of the field After a freeze, late tillers are produced that have the capability of still producing a decent grain yield After a freeze, late tillers are produced that have the capability of still producing a decent grain yield Yield of these late tillers is determined by environmental conditions Yield of these late tillers is determined by environmental conditions

Growth Stage Important Growth stageLow temp (2 hrs)Effect Jointing24Mod. Boot28Mod. Heading30Severe Flowering30Severe Milk28Mod. Dough28Slight Kansas State Univ.

Wheat Stand Ratings Should a grower keep or destroy a stand? Should a grower keep or destroy a stand? Ideally would like to have plants/sq ft Ideally would like to have plants/sq ft < 4 plants/sq ftBad < 4 plants/sq ftBad 4-12 plants/sq ftLook at vigor & 4-12 plants/sq ftLook at vigor &uniformity > 12 plants/sq ftMost likely keep

Wheat Tillering Can Compensate For Low Plant Populations Seeding ratePlants/sq ftTillers/plant ---lb/acre Kansas State Univ.

Wheat for Grazing & Grain Probably not a good idea Probably not a good idea Almost any type of grazing will cause damage to the wheat grain yield, especially under wet conditions Almost any type of grazing will cause damage to the wheat grain yield, especially under wet conditions Absolutely need dry conditions Absolutely need dry conditions Question: Is it worth the risk? Question: Is it worth the risk?

Winnsboro Research Grazing Termination Yield (bu/A)--- Check39 45 March March Viator, et al.

Feekes Scale

Why is this scale important? Many herbicide and fungicide labels will use this scale when describing when the products should be applied Many herbicide and fungicide labels will use this scale when describing when the products should be applied It is a “universal” scale that is used throughout the United States It is a “universal” scale that is used throughout the United States

Feekes Scale Tillering Tillering Stem Extension Stem Extension Heading Heading Flowering Flowering Ripening Ripening

Feekes Scale 3 Tillers formed Tillers formed Most of the tillers that contribute to grain yield potential are completed during this stage Most of the tillers that contribute to grain yield potential are completed during this stage Many weed control decisions should be made before or during this stage Many weed control decisions should be made before or during this stage

Feekes Stage 4 Beginning of erect growth Beginning of erect growth Most tillers have been formed by this stage Most tillers have been formed by this stage Secondary root system is developing Secondary root system is developing Growing point is still below the soil Growing point is still below the soil

Feekes Stage 5 Plant becomes strongly erect Plant becomes strongly erect All meaningful tiller development has ceased All meaningful tiller development has ceased Growing point is still below the soil level Growing point is still below the soil level Ideal stage for spring topdressing of N Ideal stage for spring topdressing of N Difficult stage to determine!!!!!!!!! Difficult stage to determine!!!!!!!!!

Feekes Stage 6 First node visible (jointing) First node visible (jointing) Relatively easy to determine this stage Relatively easy to determine this stage Use knife to split stems Use knife to split stems The first node is swollen and appears above the soil surface The first node is swollen and appears above the soil surface

Stage 6, cont. Some herbicides should not be applied after this stage Some herbicides should not be applied after this stage Excellent stage to make spring topdressing of N Excellent stage to make spring topdressing of N Growers need to be monitoring their stands and know how to determine this growth stage Growers need to be monitoring their stands and know how to determine this growth stage

Feekes Stage 8 Flag leaf visible Flag leaf visible Flag leaf makes up about 75% of the effective leaf area that contributes to grain fill Flag leaf makes up about 75% of the effective leaf area that contributes to grain fill Decisions regarding some fungicide applications should be made Decisions regarding some fungicide applications should be made

Feekes Stage 10 Boot stage Boot stage Head is fully developed, but has not yet emerged from the leaf sheath below the flag leaf Head is fully developed, but has not yet emerged from the leaf sheath below the flag leaf

Summary Treat wheat like you would other crops Treat wheat like you would other crops Encourage growers to not plant too early Encourage growers to not plant too early Prepare a good seedbed and avoid wet areas Prepare a good seedbed and avoid wet areas Listen closely to the remaining presentations Listen closely to the remaining presentations

Questions?