Wheat Grain Winter Wheat Update, Texas Panhandle & South Plains Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Lubbock 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu Texas Panhandle & South Plains August 2013
2013 Wheat Seed Prospects No secret that supply is short What about those high yields we heard about in Kansas? they were limited to the eastern part of the state; seed blocks of the varieties we need in West Texas were in western Kansas Beardless supply is acutely short Ø Dairies are the most likely to buy supply (call now)
2013 Seed Issues In general smaller seed; test weight may be lower by 1-3 lbs./bu If germination is good, then producers can reduce the per-acre seeding rate Ø Typically 14,000-15,500 seeds per lb., but anticipate that much 2013 planting seed may be 16,000-18,000 seeds/lb. Thus planting depth should be reduced
If I can get a limited supply of a preferred wheat variety (e.g., an AgriLife Pick wheat) I am willing to plant more acres at a 20% lower seeding rate vs. a less desired variety Texas High Plains wheat seeding rate trials demonstrate that somewhat lower seeding rates usually produce yields comparable to our customary seeding rates (e.g. ~60 lbs./a on irrigated)
Plant Quality Seed--Wheat Test Wt. > than 58 lbs./bu (wheat) Germination > 85% If seed is Poor Quality Ø Plant higher seeding rate Ø Plant under optimum conditions Ø Seed treatments may help
Wheat Seed Testing Seed Testing Laboratory Service Providers for Texas Agriculture, Calvin Trostle Ø http://publications.tamu.edu, then look under Miscellaneous Texas Dept. of Agriculture stopped seeding testing in 2011, but has resumed ($50/sample) on a limited basis Texas Seed Trade Assn. has a suggested list of test labs from their members Also, state seed labs in surrounding states
Typical AgriLife High Plains trial: Smaller plots actually improve our ability to reduce influence of factors other than variety genetics. This type of trial is less expensive to conduct allowing more test sites with limited funds. Many of these sites are funded by Texas Wheat Producers Board.
AgriLife in the High Plains: Picks vs. Recommendations We are going to give you a list based on our High Plains trials over 3+ years I refrain from saying recommended varieties lest that imply Texas A&M AgriLife endorsement Rather Picks, that is, given the information AgriLife has generated, these are the wheat varieties that I would include on my farm
New Pick Varieties 2013 No changes in 2013 due to no useful data Suggested variety picks for grain under all conditions in Texas AgriLife trials are yielding about 5 to 12% above the average of all other varieties in our trials. You can certainly justify the added seed costs to upgrade your wheat varieties if you are replanting saved seed from a previous harvest.
AgriLife Pick Wheat Grain Varieties Texas High Plains (2013-2014) Full Irrigation Limited Irrigation Dryland TAM 111 TAM 111 TAM 111 TAM 112 TAM 112 TAM 113 TAM 113 TAM 113 TAM 304 Duster Duster Duster Hatcher Hatcher Hatcher Winterhawk Winterhawk Winterhawk Endurance
Irrigated Wheat Grain Yield (22 TX High Plains sites across 4 years) Yield (bu/a) 70 60 50 40 P I C K 30 O T 20 H W E 10 R H 0 2009-2012 E * Pick varieties vs. all other varieties. & Pick varieties Avs. all Beardless varieties. +11%* +23%^ ß Higher Yield of Pick Vars A L L B E A R D L E S S "Pick" Wheat Varieties# All Other Wheats Beardless Wheats #Begin with highest avg. yield (09-12): Winterhawk (71.8 bu/ A), TAM 111, Hatcher, Duster, TAM 112, TAM 113, TAM 304
Dryland Wheat Grain Yield (21 TX High Plains sites across 4 years) 40 P +12%* +23%^ ß Higher Yield of Pick Vars Yield (bu/a) 30 20 10 0 I C K W H E 2009-2012 * Pick varieties vs. all other varieties. & Pick varieties Avs. all Beardless varieties. A L L O T H E R B E A R D L E S S "Pick" Wheat Varieties# All Other Wheats Beardless Wheats #Begin with highest avg. yield (09-12): Winterhawk (38.6 bu/ A), Hatcher, TAM 112, TAM 113, TAM 111, Endurance, Duster
High Plains Picks TAM 112 (greenbug tolerant) is just plain hard to beat on dryland Ø Reduced potential on chalky/caliche soils? TAM 111 also has performed strong for several years TAM 113 is a new pick Hatcher yields have also snared a lot of attention in the past 3-4 years Ø Russian wheat aphid tolerant, seems more important as you near the NM state line
How Have Picks Changed in Last 3 Years?--Additions TAM 113 is new, comparable in performance to TAMs 111 & 112, but better disease package (rusts), better bread making quality Winterhawk (Westbred) added exceptional yields, but is susceptible on rusts and 1 of only 2 varieties that often develops stem rust Ø AgriLife suggests that if you choose Winterhawk, you may limit this variety to about 25% of your total acreage
How Have Picks Changed in Last 3 Years?--Deletions Bill Brown (Colorado St.)--it is the other variety susceptible to stem rust; performance has tailed off in past 2-3 years, but still good; comparable to Hatcher, but higher test weight Others removed: Ø Armour in dryland Ø TAM 304 removed from limited irrigation and dryland (only for high input situations)
Wheat Grain Varieties Greenbug resistant varieties TAM 112, (similar to older TAM 110); Hessian fly resistant Duster, Coronado; Russian wheat aphid Hatcher, Bill Brown Herbicide tolerance Clearfield wheat, Beyond herbicide (similar to Raptor, $$$, good way to treat jointed goat-grass); Centerfield CL, Protection CL, Bond CL, and now AP503 CL2 (which is basically a Jagalene sister)
Wheat & Disease Resistance (underlined are Picks ) Disease resistance issues going forward Leaf rust Ø Resistant: Doans, Fannin, TAM 113, 203, 304, & 401, Duster, Billings, Winterhawk Stripe rust is less common, but devastating when it occurs: Ø Many resistant varieties including TAM 111, 113 & 203, Doans, Fannin, Fuller, Jagalene, Billings Wheat streak mosaic virus, WSMV Ø Good tolerance: TAM 112; also Jagger, Jagalene, Fuller Soil borne mosaic virus non issue in TX South Plains
Wheat Grain Seeding For timely seeding (by end of October), little evidence of increased irrigated yield above 60 lbs./a (e.g., almost 1,000,000 seeds/a) Ø Seed size can vary by 20% Ø If germ is good, seeding rate can be adjusted down for smaller seed size Ø ~40 lbs./a adequate for dryland Ø Seed higher if blowing is a concern
Top Dressing N for Wheat This is a very important consideration for Texas High Plains wheat Many producers do not understand WHY we need to ensure proper timing of topdress N, and subsequently the are often LATE with applications See supplemental information Nitrogen and Wheat Grain Production Topdressing Timing is Critical
"How late can nitrogen be applied on wheat and still pay, particularly with the price of nitrogen so high?" "Research from K-State and other universities has shown that nitrogen-deficient wheat will almost always respond to additional nitrogen fertilizer by increasing yield and protein content--as long as the nitrogen is applied before flag leaf emergence. "But once the wheat heads, producers are unlikely to receive an economic yield benefit from applying nitrogen, even if the wheat is nitrogen deficient."
"Some combination of fall pre-plant or at-seeding nitrogen, and/or early topdressed nitrogen, is also normally needed to supply adequate nitrogen to support head differentiation. This is the stage when head size is being determined, and can begin about 2 weeks before jointing."
Simple Nitrogen Rules of Thumb--Wheat for Grain No soil test info: 1.2 lbs. N per bushel of yield goal Ø 50 bu/a yield goal X 1.2 = 60 lbs. N/A With soil test: 1.5 lbs. N per bushel of yield goal, then deduct soil test N contribution
Nitrogen Timing Leaf sheaths strongly erect jointing has occurred Ideal stage of growth for topdress N is just prior to jointing Ø Look for earliest joints of scattered plants to signal topdress N timing Ø but if wheat looks ragged and yellow, if might need some help sooner... Later applications (jointing or later) do not affect potential number of seed per head.
. First Node Hollow stem Growing point
Growing point differentiation in wheat: a small head down in stem. Spikelet number & seeds per spikelet mostly already determined. If grazing and then going to grain cattle should have been off about 7-10 days ago.
N Timing on Wheat Grain Minimal N fertility? Consider ~1/3 of N in fall, topdress 2/3 in late winter/early spring before jointing If residual fertility is good, then minimal or no Fall N unless stand is thin (though you might advance spring applications some) Go earlier with later winter/spring topdress N if: Ø Rain is predicted (to incorporate N) Ø Earlier maturity (Jagger, TAM 110, TAM 112)
N Timing on Wheat Grain For dryland wheat: apply all N in fall & incorporate may be best; if residual fertility is good, then delay N until late winter/early spring and adjust target N up/down based on field conditions.
Nitrogen Timing For best topdressing results, N has to be in the root zone In the System by the time jointing occurs N laying on the surface that hasn t been rained on or washed in by irrigation will not be available to the plant Ø For this reason, especially for topdress N applications with dry fertilizer N, allow time for potential rain/snow or irrigation to wash the N into the root zone
Extra, Extra... Will you bale oat or other small grains hay in 2014? When will you do it? What will you use the hay for (feed or sell)? If you keep it yourself, what kind of animal do you feed? Key Question: What happens to forage quality the longer you wait?
Lubbock Co. Oat Trial One-time Hay Harvest, var. Troy Growth Stage Harvest Date Dry Hay Lbs./A % Crude Protein Lbs. CP per acre Early Boot May 17 3,240 18.4 596 Init. Heading May 24 4,510 16.3 735 Fully Headed May 31 5,465 13.9 760 Milk June 7 6,010 12.5 751 Mealy Ripe June 14 6,420 11.5 738 Firm Dough June 21 6,845 8.7 596 Troy oat was harvested for six Fridays in a row among extra plots. Yield was taken for three plots at each date, individual each sample analyzed for crude protein. When you consider your tonnage and forage quality goals, and your use or your market, which scenario is best for you?