1. 1 Ouachita Fertilizer Wheat 2005/2006

2. 2 Ouachita Commitment to you Increase yields Lower Costs Help solve those production problems that limit profitability

3. 3 U.S Wheat Situation: Winter Wheat Acres

4. 4 Harvested US Wheat in 2005

5. 5 U.S Wheat Situation: Less Carryover

6. 6 U.S Wheat Situation Planted and harvested acres are going down Demand is stable USDA average farm price for wheat = $3.40 per bushel in 2004 & 2005 Prices should be similar in 2006

7. 7 CBOT Prices Since 2001

8. 8 Wheat Price July 2006

9. 9 Lowering Costs with Wheat U. Of Arkansas, July, 2005 $/Bu. To Produce a Bushel of Wheat The value of higher yields from DSS…

10. 10 Ouachita Commitment to you Increase yields Lower Costs Help solve those production problems that limit profitability Can DSS improve yields to lower costs and increase profitability?

11. 11 Summary of 2005 Delta Smart Systems –1,158 acres in 2004 –2,078 acres in 2005 Satellite Weather Station in Monroe in 2004 & we added Moreauville for 2005

12. 12 Summary of 2005 Disease Samples : 2004 = 6 2005 = 16 Field Inspections: 2004 = 271 2005 = 563 Plant Analysis: 10 samples in 2004 21 samples in 2005

13. 13 Summary of 2005 Produced two wheat newsletters describing the key steps to produce 80 bushel/acre wheat. Produced four updates during the growing season to keep growers informed of crop situation

14. 14 Wheat Yields: 2004 & 2005 Yields bu./acre 200020012002200320042005 % change 04-05 LA535040415046-8.0% ARK545246505350-5.7% Miss555244495348-9.4% OFC 596611.9% Acres in DSS improved yields from 2004 to 2005 while the market produced less…

15. 15 Wheat Weather 04-05 GDU/month MONROE2002200320042005 Average 02 to 04 2005 vs. 3 yr. avg. October71575576787476114.9% November60033453753443622.7% December40621316822719119.2% January3099622031015896.3% February250169143317156103.4% March492469632462550-16.1% April775721688702704-0.4% May879923892846907-6.8% Total GDUs4427367840474271386210.6%

16. 16 Wheat Weather 04-05 Rain/month MONROE2002200320042005 Average 02 to 04 2005 vs. 3 yr. avg. October4.67.02.58.84.884.5% November7.64.17.313.35.7133.0% December9.06.37.65.87.0-17.4% January5.50.35.45.32.983.0% February2.76.710.55.48.6-37.3% March6.22.08.04.55.0-9.0% April2.74.14.95.54.521.8% May1.07.111.24.89.1-48.0% Total rainfall39.237.557.553.247.512.0%

17. 17 Wheat Weather 04-05 N/D/J/F was much warmer in the 2005 crop than the previous three years; 1388 vs. 940 GDU. –Lower populations could tiller –Crop advanced: wheat needed N before we were ready; end of Feb in ’05 was equal to end of March M/A/M tempt were about equal. November was 2-3 X wetter than the average. Total moisture was a little more than average.

18. 18 What it told us in 2005? –From October through January we accumulated 400 more heat units than the average for this period, (25% more). –In the same time period we received 13 inches additional rain fall than average (65% more). Why it is important? “Nitrogen Timing“! – “Normal” Top Dress time on Wheat is Mid-late February. In 2005 we had to apply in Mid January. Wheat Weather 04-05

19. 19 Ouachita Commitment to you Increase yields Lower Costs Help solve those production problems that limit profitability

20. 20 Fall Wheat Recommendations Variety Selection Seed Treatment Field Considerations Planting Success Fertilizer Solutions Bugs Weeds 65% of your yields will be determined when the planting is finished

21. 21 Variety Selections: wheat Considerations Vernalization requirement determines appropriate planting date for each variety. –exposure to cold temperatures Heading Day (harvest) determines when crop is ready to harvest. Varieties heading after April 9 th (100 day) were 4 bu./acre below plot average in 2004 if planted late Resistance to disease and virus (septoria and rust) Test weight

22. 22 Variety Selections: wheat Example from 2005: Varieties that have longer cold weather requirements planted on October 12th yielded 74 bushels /acre Varieties with shorter cold weather requirements planted on November 9th yielded 77 bushels /acre

23. 23 Variety Recommendations Early to mid-October planting –Coker 9663 Mid to late October planting –Natchez Early November planting –Terrell LA841

24. 24 Coker 9663 (Syngenta) Highest yield in DSS when planted in October Tall, with awnlet (bearded for varmints). Moderately resistant to leaf rust, Septoria, and stem rust. Resistant to Hessian fly. (can plant early)

25. 25 Natchez (Agripro) Highest yielding DSS variety in 2004 Second highest DSS variety in 2005 Moderately resistant to leaf and stripe rust Very good soil virus resistance Very good resistance to glume blotch and septoria leaf blotch Very good tillering (less seed/acre)

26. 26 LA 841 (Terrell Seeds) Highest yield in DSS when planted in early November Excellent test weights Very good adaptation across all soil types Some resistance to Septoria leaf, glume blotch and excellent resistance to rust Moderately tolerant to Sencor Do not plant early

27. 27 Seeding Rates –1.2 million seeds per acre gives the highest yield when planted in October –1.4 million seeds per acre gives the highest yield when planted in November

28. 28 Seeding Rates 13 seeds/ft. ( 1.2 M seeds) At 12,000 seeds/lb = 100 lbs/acre At 14,000 seeds/lb = 86 lbs/acre At 16,000 seeds/lb = 75 lbs/acre 18 seeds/ft. ( 1.4 M seeds) At 12,000 seeds/lb = 116 lbs/acre At 14,000 seeds/lb = 100 lbs/acre At 16,000 seeds/lb = 87 lbs/acre

29. 29 Seed Treatments Treating wheat seed generated eight bushels more than non-treated in 2005. Seed Treatments adds about 1.1 bushels of wheat per acre to the investment. 6.9 bushels more profit X $3.40 per bushel = $23 more profit per acre.

30. 30 Seed Treatments Infection is greatest when wheat is : Planted in wet, compacted soils Planted in fields with low in phosphorus availability Planted in fields previously cropped to corn or rice. Soil moisture is very wet or very dry. Use either Dividend Extreme or Raxil MD Extra

31. 31 Field Considerations Drainage: keep water away –In 2005 DSS, lower CEC soils out yielded higher CEC soils by as much as 12 bu. Take-all: rotate crops Ryegrass: control early Hessian Fly: plant after free date Spindle Streak: variety

32. 32 Cereals Need a Firm Seedbed Loose soil means poor depth control

33. 33 Seeding Depth is Key Planting too deep causes delayed emergence. Delayed emergence lowers yields. Wheat Yields by Emergence Oregon State U., 1984

34. 34 Seeding Depth is Key

35. 35 Wheat Fertility Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium Sulfur Zinc

36. 36 Wheat Fertility: 2004 Summary of GS5 plant tissue samples in 2004 Nitrogen, sulfur and zinc were most limiting yields DSS, 2004

37. 37 Wheat Fertility: 2005 Nitrogen, sulfur and zinc are most limiting yields (again)

38. 38 Wheat Fertility Arkansas, 2003 Counted at GS5: More tillers per plant means more wheat

39. 39 Wheat Fertility Nitrogen is most critical*: – When planting after corn, rice, sorghum or cotton –When planting after October 20 th –When planting after a wet summer. (low soil residual) * Univ. of Arkansas, 2003

40. 40 Wheat Fertility Nitrogen was more critical in 2005 because of accelerated heat units forcing the plant to grow. GDU/month MONROE2002200320042005 Average 02 to 04 2005 vs 3 yr. avg November60033453753443622.7% December40621316822719119.2% January3099622031015896.3% February250169143317156103.4% Total GDUs14078161014124191535.6%

41. 41 Wheat Fertility Phosphorous is critical: –To get wheat root systems developed –To get wheat tillers produced –To get wheat kernel numbers –To get wheat mature

42. 42 Wheat Fertility DSS, 2004 & 2005

43. 43 Wheat Fertility Potassium (potash) is critical: –To get wheat straw strength (reduces lodging) –To give 30% greater protection from diseases (see table) –To get wheat to produce higher yields Fall Potash lbs/A Yield Bu/A Disease Rating 06530 807322 U. Of Arkansas

44. 44 Wheat Fertility DSS, 2004

45. 45 Zinc Problem Soils Zn deficiency was reported for soils: –high and low pH, organic matter –Calcareous, sandy or poorly drained soils –limed acid soils Sulfonylurea herbicides (ex: Harmony) reduce Zn uptake. Low Zn levels will impact varieties differently

46. 46 Zinc and Wheat Deficient zinc is to the left. Researchers added zinc in increments going from left to right. Untreated pot is at left; then rates were added at.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 lbs. /acre of zinc

47. 47 Wheat Fertility Low Zinc levels: –Reduce tillering –Stunts the plants –Causes poor flowering and seed set –Produces abnormal grain –Lowers crop production in hot weather Fall application of zinc is most efficient

48. 48 Wheat Fertility Sulfur is critical: –For the plant to utilize nitrogen –Forms protein for food- grade wheat –Low plant levels cause small, thin and spindly plants 10 lbs. /acre increased yields by 22 bu./A in DSS data.

49. 49 Watch for Fall Aphids Can lower yields by 33% Can vector virus (barley yellow dwarf) Can kill tillers (greenbug) Early planted most vulnerable Can treat seed with Gaucho or Gaucho XT Can apply as a postemergence treatment at two to three leaf stage.

50. 50 Wheat Weeds Identify Beat early in the game Several use two-shot Use Harmony/Sencor (where tolerant) early Very narrow window for 2,4-D (Salvo) applications –Can only use between fully tillered and jointing: yield losses of 15 bu./acre when used outside this window

51. 51 Wheat Growth Stages

52. 52 Fall Program for Wheat Select variety by field, planting window –Understand the “holes” of each variety –Treat the seed (Dividend or Raxil MD Extra) Plant from 10/12 to 11/12 – Early Variety – Coker 9663 –Mid Season Variety – AP Natchez or Terral 841 –Late Season Variety – Terral 841 Plant 1.2 million – 1.4 million seed/acre Firm the soil and plant 1” deep Apply a minimum of 35-40-60 with 10 lbs. sulfur and 2 lbs of zinc pre-plant, pre-emergence or early post to add aphid control Watch for fall aphids/control weeds

53. 53 Ouachita Commitment to you Increase yields Lower Costs Help solve those production problems that limit profitability