Preharvest Management of Small Grains

Jul 26, 2019

There are two methods of pre-harvest management that can speed up the small grain harvest: Swathing or applying glyphosate. Because modern varieties allow for it, most wheat and barley is now straight-cut instead of swathed. Oats are still commonly swathed. A pre-harvest application of glyphosate is only labeled in wheat.

The advantages and disadvantages of the different preharvest management tactics can be found here: https://extension.umn.edu/small-grains-harvest-and-storage/managing-wheat-harvest

If you suspect you have a moderate to high infestation of wheat stem sawfly, swathing may be a good choice to avoid harvest losses. Because wheat stem sawfly migrated into this year wheat crop from adjacent wheat stubble, there is generally a very strong edge effect. To determine if you need to swath edges of fields, sample the wheat crop and determine the percent of plants infested by wheat stem sawflies before harvest. Simply split the stems longitudinally and look for the S-shaped larvae inside the stems.

If more than 15 percent of stems ae infested by sawflies, you should consider swathing. Swath the sawfly-infested wheat as soon as the crop has reached physiological maturity to prevent infested stems from lodging.

Source: umn.edu

Video: Canadian Seed Policy Modernization: An Interview With Lauren Comin of Seeds Canada

Seeds Canada’s Lauren Comin says agriculture is at a crossroads — and the seed sector has a rare chance to push bold reforms. Her message: farmers don’t need buzzwords, they need faster, cheaper access to innovation, and the window to act is now. Policy doesn't have to be boring. In this far-reaching conversation, Lauren Comin, Director of Policy at Seeds Canada, talks innovation, transformation, and what to expect from regulatory policy in the coming year. Full interview available on SW360. Policy is at the heart of the industry, and Lauren Comin, Director of Policy at Seeds Canada, is on the forefront. Hear her thoughts on current trends, how she’s pushing for innovation, and why the seed industry is at a crossroads in this far-reaching interview