OMAFRA highlights best management practices for delayed winter wheat planting
By: Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
A wet and cool spring, coupled with cooler temperatures in August and September, has pushed back Ontario’s soybean harvest, which is jeopardizing winter wheat planting.
To help producers maximize the potential of their winter wheat, OMAFRA highlighted best management practices in its most recent Field Crop Report.
Crop rotation
There is a significant yield advantage for an overall cropping system with the inclusion of winter wheat in a crop rotation. Although there may not be the opportunity to plant winter wheat after soybeans due to harvest delays, wheat can also follow behind edible beans, peas or canola, according to OMAFRA. If planning to plant winter wheat after silage corn, farmers should take measures to prevent fusarium head blight in the wheat.
If planting winter wheat is not in the cards, some farmers have seen success with broadcasting oats and cereal rye after the soybeans have turned and leaf drop has begun, according to Meagan Griffiths, an agronomist with Cargill. Broadcasting oats and rye after soybean harvest also can lead to good results if farmers are able to get on the field.
Variety selection
It is important to select wheat seed with excellent germination and quality seed treatments as these varieties will help to fight against seedling diseases. Also, choosing varieties with good winter survival is essential when planting winter wheat late. In combination, these traits will help to prevent winterkill caused by hampered root development and fewer tillers, OMAFRA says.
Plant population
OMAFRA lays out the following optimal dates to plant winter wheat:
Eastern Ontario → early September
Central Ontario → mid-September
South-central Ontario → mid- to late September
Southwestern Ontario → mid-October
In southwestern Ontario, “any (winter wheat) planted prior to October 10th has the most yield potential,” said Griffiths. After this, yields tend to decline, she explained.
The optimal seeding rate for winter wheat will, of course, depend on the variety. Therefore, be sure to check with your seed dealer and read the label.
In general, when planting during the optimal window, winter wheat should be seeded at 1.4 to 1.5 million seeds/acre. However, the seeding rate should be increased by 200,000 seeds/week for every week planting is delayed. This increased rate is intended to compensate for reduced tillering.
Seeding rate can be increased up to a maximum of 2.2 million seeds/acre, according to OMAFRA.
Starter fertilizer
Winter wheat greatly benefits from seed-placed starter fertilizer. Starter fertilizer is especially critical in delayed planting situations, as it helps to improve winter survival and crop uniformity come spring.
Wheat has also shown great response to phosphate (P) fertilizer, OMAFRA says. If the soil is low in P, there can be up to a 7 bu/ac response with a 100 lb/ac (45 kg) application of MAP or even a 5 to 6 bu/ac response with a 50 lb/ac (23 kg) application, explained Griffiths.
Starter fertilizer should be applied based on an accredited Ontario soil test.
For the full report, click here.