This month I would like to focus on wheat production. Included in the Blog are comments from Dan Weathington, Executive Director of the NC Small Grain Growers Association with his thoughts on growing wheat in 2015. Dr. Ron Heinegar- NCSU Grain Specialist will also discuss wheat production topics and present 2015 Wheat Yield Contest results. Included are the OVT trial results from throughout our state. Please share this information with your growers and as always if you have questions please give me a call.
Sincerely,
Rick Morris
Harvey’s Agronomist
Interview by Rhonda Garrison
As corn, tobacco and other crops come out of the field it’s time to think about a winter crop. Executive Director Dan Weathington of the North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association says wheat is still a viable winter crop:
“At this time of the year farmers are making plans to try to make money next year. If you look at prices on all commodities, they don’t look good but we still need to make money. A lot of people ask why they should plant wheat.”
Weathington outlines the reasons to go back to wheat this winter:
“Wheat is always number one, great in your rotation. Number two, it’s the first cash crop that you get money from next summer. Those are two good reasons. We have to farm something and I really think that talking to many people in the Midwest, at some point in time the numbers will catch up on the actualities of what the corn and bean crops are there and we will see prices go up.”
The 14-15 growing season was one of the most challenging for growing wheat in most people’s memories. But, despite all that, Weathington says the crop came in well:
“We have had 5 pretty good wheat years back to back. This last one didn’t look great to start with but turned out good. We are looking at 54 bushels from USDA and the ten year average is 59. We had 51 entries in our wheat contest and the highest state winner was 125 and 17 farmers who did 100 or better. We can grow wheat and there is a market for it.” And a ready-made market at that, right here in the southeast. To hear the full interview please visit: http://sfntoday.com/market-for-wheat-crop-ready-made/
Dr. Ron Heiniger, NCSU
The attached Wheat Variety Performance Chart (included as an attachment in this email) and the below recommendations are based on variety tests conducted in North Carolina in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Yield, test weight, and heading date are evaluated at every location. Pest resistance information is updated whenever possible or when the pest pressure makes it feasible to evaluate resistance. These rankings are not always the same as those reported in the OVT, because 1) additional variety tests may be used in addition to the OVT, and 2) some locations used in the OVT may be excluded.
Plant At Least Three Varieties: Always try to select at least three varieties to plant. This minimizes the risk of selecting a variety that may lack resistance to a particular pest or may flower at a time when weather conditions are not optimal. The “Above-Average Yielding” varieties are good first choices. However, even the “Average Yielding Varieties” are likely to produce acceptable yields. To help with disease management, make sure you note which varieties you plant in each field.
Avoid Spring Freeze Damage: Spring freeze damage is often a problem in North Carolina and result in unacceptable loss in yield potential. Early-heading varieties are the most likely to be damaged by spring freeze. To reduce the risk of yield loss due to freeze damage, plant no more than one early-heading variety and at least one late-heading variety. Late-heading varieties are best when planted early and should be the first varieties planted. Early-heading varieties should be planted on the late side of the optimum planting period, and should be the last varieties planted.
Reduce the Risk of Head Scab: In some parts of North Carolina, head scab was a significant disease problem in 2015 resulting in yield losses, low test weight, and rejection of grain at the buying station due to high vomitoxin (DON) levels. This disease is one of the major problems that small grain growers must try to avoid. The best way to minimize risk is to plant varieties rated “MR” to head scab (Table 1). If weather conditions in the spring favor scab, fungicides may be recommended at flowering. However, even if selected, timed and applied correctly, fungicides are not 100% effective. They can only reduce scab damage, not eliminate it. Therefore, planting varieties rated “MR” to scab is the first and most important step in managing this threat. See www.smallgrains.ncsu.edu/head-scab.html for more information.
Maximize Yield By Managing Powdery Mildew or Leaf Rust: Research at NCSU has shown that when powdery mildew or rust develops, the combination of varieties rated “R” or “MR” for these diseases and a fungicide application most often leads to the highest yield. These diseases are less common in the Piedmont region, but in other parts of the state, selecting varieties with resistance to powdery mildew and rust is always a good idea. See www.smallgrains.ncsu.edu/video-library.html for more information about these diseases.
Are Soil Virus Diseases Important? In years with wet, cool weather and in fields with a history of soil viral diseases, yields can be reduced by 14% or more when a variety rated “S” for soil-borne mosaic or spindle-streak virus is used compared to one rated “MR.” Once a field has a history of soil virus problems, it is important to plant varieties rated “MR” or “R” for that particular virus. There are no fungicides or other treatments that can be used to treat soil viruses. Therefore, when you have a soil virus, variety selection is your only defense against yield loss.
More Information on Variety Selection or Disease Management: Check the Small Grain Production Guide, the small grain production website (www.smallgrains.ncsu.edu), or call your local county extension office. Further information about variety characteristics such as plant height or local variety performance can be found at www.ncovt.com.
ARE Area I and STATE-WIDE WINNERS: Piedmont
Statewide and Region I Winner:Cox Brothers Farms, USG 3612, 125.53 bushels/acre, Union County
Statewide and Region I 2nd Place:Gene Alexander, Dyna Gro Shirley, 125.02 bushels/acre, Union County
Statewide and Region I 3rd Place:Allan Baucom, Pioneer 26R41, 123.68 bushels/acre, Union County
Agent Award: Andrew Baucom, Union County
ARE Area II: Coastal Plain
Region II Winner:Moses Farmer, Dyna Gro Shirley, 97.06 bushels/acre, Harnett County
Region II 2nd Place:Andy Herring Farms, Pioneer 25R25, 96.72 bushels/acre, Sampson County
Region II 3rd Place:Harold Lee and Sons, Dyna Gro Shirley, 95.80 bushels/acre, Johnston County
Agent Awards:Brian Parrish, Harnett County; Della King, Sampson County; Timothy Britton, Johnston County
ARE Area III: Tidewater
Region III Winner:Poole Farms, Inc., Southern States 8360, 117.04 bushels/acre, Beaufort County
Region III 2nd Place:Parrish Farms, Dyna Gro Shirley, 106.46 bushels/acre, Chowan County
Region III 3rd Place:Robert Woodard, Southern States 8360, 103.26 bushels/acre, Perquimans County
Agent Awards:Rod Gurganus, Beaufort County; Paul Smith Jr., Chowan and Perquimans County
100 Bushel Wheat Club Awards
Cox Brothers Farms 125.53 bushels/acre
Gene Alexander 125.02 bushels/acre
Allan Baucom 123.68 bushels/acre
Poole Farms, Inc. 117.04 bushels/acre
Peter Benetiz 115.08 bushels/acre
Larry Benetiz 113.64 bushels/acre
Derrick Austin and Crew 111.68 bushels/acre
Matthew Alexander 108.38 bushels/acre
Moore Farm, Inc. 106.98 bushels/acre
Parrish Farms 106.46 bushels/acre
Chad Brantley 105.95 bushels/acre
Robert Woodard 103.26 bushels/acre
Matt Bell 102.10 bushels/acre
Robert Saunders 100.45 bushels/acre
To see all 2015 Wheat Contest Entries please visit the research section of our website at http://ncwheat.com/research/ . There you will find a printable/downloadable copy of the contest entries.
Please note all 2015 and future OVT “green books” will not be available in print as they have in the past. More information on OVT results can be found at ncovt.com. Please use and share this information to all producers as preparations for the fall plantings are made. As variety selections are made for the upcoming season, it is important to remember:
1) Select at least 3 varieties with different maturity (early -late heading).
2) Reduce risk of Head Scab by selecting varieties with at least moderate resistance (#1 management tool for this disease)
3) Manage powdery mildew and leaf rust with combination of varietal resistance and fungicides (if needed).