Protecting the potential of this year's wheat crop

Yield, followed by protein, define each year’s wheat harvest for most producers. But, high yield expert Phil Needham argued at the Farm Journal’s Wheat College on February 24 in Manhattan that higher yields are actually comprised of a multitude of small and large management decisions that farmers make throughout the year. Needham said that wheat producers should look at their fields and crop like an accountant before starting to apply spring inputs.

“You need to know what you've got before you can manage it,” Needham said. That means measuring soil nutrient levels, conducting stand counts as well as scouting fields regularly.

Protecting Potential Now

As the wheat starts to emerge from winter dormancy, Needham said the ultimate goal is “protecting the potential.”

To so do through applying herbicide, fungicide or fertilizer, Needham said the challenge is ensuring these inputs are applied uniformly. This could include utilizing technology like streamer bars on the sprayer, which are not height dependent, meaning inputs are applied evenly even when crossing terraces or uneven terrain. This is also useful for liquid fertilizer applications compared to spinning disk spreaders that may not efficiently apply varying particle size fertilizers like urea. Needham also advocated for using forward-backward nozzles for more uniform coverage for fungicide and other applications.  

However, producers could start with something as simple as re-calibrating equipment or performing regular maintenance “as irregularities can frequently be traced back to that source,” as Needham explained in the program’s Official Guide.

Focus on the Flag Leaf

As the wheat grows to maturity, Needham said producers should work to keep the flag leaf as healthy and green as possible until the end of grain fill when the head starts to dry down. This is important as the flag leaf contributes to up to 45 percent of final yield.

“I want the wheat to physiologically mature, not die off,” Needham said.

This means scouting fields regularly and watching disease reports. Needham said the goal should be to eliminate foliar diseases before the wheat head starts to develop.

Preparing for the Next Crop

After harvest, Needham said producers should think about residue management and inter-seeding the next crop in the rotation.

He explained that as combine header size has increased, the size of choppers has not, which has resulted in a more inefficient spread of wheat straw. He suggested that stripper headers, in contrast, can save fuel and leave taller residue in the field, which helps improve plant potential for the next crop.

Additionally, Needham recommending adjusting openers on the planter according to manufacturer instructions in order to plant the next crop in the rotation in between the prior year’s rows.

Not any one of these recommendations is a golden ticket to higher yields by itself, but when applied purposefully together, Needham said farmers can best utilize their resources to maximize their wheat’s potential each year.

By Julia Debes