WHEAT UPDATE: High Yield Wheat

Wheat Management Considerations

1. Collect samples for soil testing. Add lime, N, P, K, minor, and micro elements as called for by soil test interpretations. Use yield of 80 bu/acre on lab sheet. Deep till, then prepare a good seed bed prior to seeding, keep field traffic to a minimum at this time.  Do not plant on a fluffy seed bed.  No-till will work if drill is set properly and the ground has been deep tilled in the spring, a deep fall tillage is best. 
2. Plant at either a rate of:
   • 30 to 40seeds/sq. ft.
   • 18 to 23 seed/ft. of row when planting in 7-inch row spacing
   • 8 to 13 seeds/ft. of row when planting in 4-inch rows
   • Best planting depth is ¾ to less than 1.5 inches deep.  Insecticide treated seed (even if you are planting a fly resistance variety) or a timely fall spray for the control Hessian Fly and aphids which vector barley yellow dwarf.
3. Apply for the Wheat crop year a total of 100 to 120 lbs. of nitrogen per acre plus a total of 20 lbs. of sulfur per acre.
   • Three applications are best but less will work:
     • 25 to 45 lbs. of nitrogen per acre at planting (behind cotton 40 to 45 lbs. of nitrogen)
     • 50 to 70 lbs. of nitrogen per acre 15 to 30 days prior to jointing (1/15 to 2/10)
     • 30 to 40 lbs. of nitrogen per acre at first joint stage (3/01 to 3/20)
   • This is for following peanuts, high residue crops may require more nitrogen.  Cotton/corn needs to be considered a high residue crop. Some varieties need less nitrogen to make the same yields please do not over apply N.
4. Use a fungicide on all varieties. It is important to spray an approved fungicide on the last day of application (at full heading or per label) to help control glume blotch. Glume blotch hurts yields on the wheat heads, most fungicides do not translocate very well. Plan to Spray for FHB at full flowering or (3 to 5 days after) to control SCAB and decrease DON levels in wheat.
5. Know the weed history of the site and identify weeds as soon as possible.  On all seed fields you must use herbicides to control such weeds as wild radish, mustard, turnips, wild onion, garlic, and primrose. 

If you have any questions, please give us a call!

GA Office: 229-734-5466

SC Office: 803-531-1777

Good Growing,

The Mixon Team