Wheat Update: watering & fungicides
If you did not get ¾ or more inch of rain in the last week you may need to water. Dig down 2 inches and if the soil at that depth does not hold shape when balled in your hand, then water. It is best not to water when flowers are visible on over 25% of wheat heads, just wait until flowers fall off (about 3 days later). Then ¾ inch rain or irrigation a week until soft dough stage in 75% of wheat heads. Do not over water wheat.
Today, I think on time planted wheat is 14+ days ahead of “NORMAL” years. Most wheat is at Feekes early 10.1 or older this means the wheat head is visible in the leaf seath. ( AGS 2035 planted 11-26-2011 in Seminole county is at Feekes10.5.3 to 10.5.4 flowering is over) You need to spray as late as possible per the label of fungicide used, because most fungicides do not translocate well in the plant. We need to protect the head of wheat and the flag leaf during this time. If you see rust call me.
Fungicides:Headline , Stratego, Quilt, Quadris, Folicur, Tilt , or one of many others. All should be put out at per the label of fungicide used.
Aphids are out , but you need to have 10+ per flag leaf before you treat. Always watch for beneficials. Lady bugs, Aphid lions (lady bug larvae), parasitic wasp, and syrphid fly larvae all eat aphids.
Foliar insecticide treatments for aphid control: A well-timed insecticide application of a persistent pyrethroid insecticide such as lambda cyhalothrin (Warrior, Karate, Lambda, Silencer, others) can reduce the incidence of BYD and increase yields. Lambda cyhalothrin can only be applied twice to a crop so use another product at heading such as Baythroid XL or Mustang MAX/Respect. These can be combined with a foliar fungicide application and also will control cereal leaf beetle if it is present. Always follow all label instructions.
Good Growing!
