Tips for planting wheat to try and produce the biggest yields

Feb 09, 2015

Uniform wheat stands among the strategies to try and implement

With planting season sneaking up, farmers are always using a simple equation.

Use X (resources, equipment, etc.) to figure out how to get the biggest Y (yield).

When it comes to wheat (or any crop, really) farmers are always looking for an upper-hand or a new way of going about planting to get that extra bushel and more importantly that extra dollar.

Here are some tips farmers can entertain when planting their wheat in the spring or winter.

Know what type to plant
As plant genetics and breeds continue to evolve, farmers should choose their seeds based on yield but keeping a close eye on their resistance to certain diseases including leaf rust, bacterial streak and common root rot.

Know where to plant
Obviously, planting the wheat where it’s going to have the best chance to produce is the ideal practice. The best way to determine where to plant is by conducting a soil test before planting and fertilizing.

Know what kind of fertilizer to use
Doing soil tests will help better determine the kind of fertilizer to use. Along with phosphorous and potassium, keep an eye on micronutrient levels to ensure accuracy.

Maintain a consistent seeding depth
Ideally, a seed depth of 1 to 1.5 inches is a good depth to start with. Seeds should be planted based on the field’s characteristics. For example, seeds being planted in a very dry field should be planted deeper to find moisture.

Planting rates
Michigan State University’s Extension recommends a rate ranging from 1.4 to 2.2 million seeds per acre.

Try these tips and let Farms.com know if they worked for you. Or if you have any tips of your own, please share them.

Wheat

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.