STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann
UNL Extension Educator

                          
     I have spent the better part of this week helping prepare for the 2014 Nebraska State Fair. We hauled down a bunch of static exhibits from Webster County and I have to tell you that our kids did a fantastic job.  You can track the results of competition at the fair by going to: http://www.nebraska4hresults.com.  As I am writing this week’s edition it is just the beginning the Labor Day weekend and our livestock youth and parents have either already arrived or are loading up and getting ready for the annual Labor Day weekend trek to show their prized livestock exhibits at the Nebraska State Fair.  I know that South Central Nebraska is well represented in all species. I know that we have a lot of supporters for our 4-H and FFA youth.  Please stop by and say hello when you walk through the barns or watch our kids make us proud with their exhibits. Oh and can it be –Husker football starts. So I have to of course give out a “Go Big Red!”
     The Nebraska State Fair also means something else. Producers are finishing up their irrigating season, and are contemplating their next task. It won’t be long and our area farmers will be busy preparing for the 2014-15 wheat crop. With the type of year we have experienced and the problems in wheat fields we have seen in the past in our area, I think that like never before it is crucial to follow the recommended guidelines to insure a productive and successful crop. With the ergot, loose smut and Fusarium head blight (scab) incidences in our area wheat, it behooves us to follow some good production practices for wheat. Let’s this week look at planting wheat and what we can do to insure a good crop next year.
     We know there will be some challenges, there always is, and our producers can respond to these challenges with a range of tools and follow some best production principles such as: careful selection of wheat variety; using a broad approach to weed control, including several types of herbicide, crop rotation and perhaps tillage; killing volunteer wheat before planting season; and reconsidering some cultural practices that might be contributing to pests like weeds, insects and disease. Which brings me to suggest that you consider the potential for disease and what we can do about it. Believe it or not, fall is the best time to prevent wheat disease problems from robbing yields next spring. How can that be? Well, variety selection is the single most important factor in disease management and many producers are looking at what seed wheat they will be planting in the next few weeks. Although no variety is resistant to everything, modern varieties have much better resistance to diseases and insects than those from a decade ago.  Maybe the first place to start is deciding which seed is best.
     Wheat Variety Selection: You most important decision may be what variety to use. The 2014 Nebraska Fall Seed Guide is available in your local Extension Office at a minimal cost, or if you have access to the internet you can simply go to a new way of accessing the book by going to:  http://issuu.com/unlvarietytesting/docs/2014_unl_fall_seed_guide .  There are also some very good places you can go to help make your decisions. For instance, you can go for a “Virtual Tour of Nebraska Wheat Varieties” by going to:  http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/wheat/virtual or additional on-line information on wheat varieties can be found at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/varietytest/wheat . A tool for wheat variety can be found at: http://citnews.unl.edu/winter_wheat_tool/index.shtml . You might also go to the 8-22-14 edition of http://cropwatch.unl.edu/  
     Since we in SC Nebraska have a lot in common with North Central Kansas, I might also suggest utilizing the 2014 Kansas State wheat varieties and test results web site at: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/SRP1108.pdf   and at: http://www.kscrop.org/seeddirectories.aspx   Whatever variety that you settle on, don’t forget also that wheat producers must follow the rules and regulations as set by the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVP). Be sure that you are in compliance. 
     No matter which variety of seed wheat you select, I absolutely suggest using cleaned and conditioned Certified and treated seed that has a high test weight (56+). All of these qualities increase the success with winter wheat. The seed treatments need to thoroughly coat the seeds to give good results and should be applied with seed treating equipment. If you treat it with a fungicidal seed treatment it can reduce the risk of problems later on. A good list of treatments can be found at: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/archive/-/asset_publisher/VHeSpfv0Agju/content/the-importance-of-wheat-seed-treatments  
     Planting Considerations: It isn’t only seed varieties that can have an effect on disease and insects, there is no doubt that planting date has a strong impact on several diseases and insects. Early planting is a risk factor for wheat streak mosaic, triticum mosaic, soilborne mosaic, High Plains and barley yellow dwarf, and take-all root rot disease; all of which are viruses that thrive on early planted wheat. By planting wheat too early, you provide a longer window for infection in the fall as well as a longer time for diseases caused by these viruses to develop before winter. I also suggest that you plant after the Hessian fly free date (Sept. 25) for South Central Nebraska. So from then up to two weeks after that date would be the optimum planting dates. For planting rates I want to remind producers that UNL recommends that growers base wheat seeding rates on seeds per acre not pounds per acre. If you get late in planting, the seed rate should be increased to compensate for the lack of tillering associated with that delayed planting. Wheat can emerge from various depths, but a planting depth of 1 to 2 inches is optimal. If deeper planting is necessary, producers should be aware of the coleoptile length of the variety to be planted. They should also be aware that soil temperature also has a big effect on coleoptile length. Soil fertility is always a big concern with any crop.  Soil tests can go a long way in insuring a healthy plant and a great yield. 

The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home