SEPTEMBER 16, 1998

Thank you Mark and good morning everyone. Halfway through September already and just a week away from the autumnal equinox. Where does the time go? You still have time to get down to the state fair in Hutchinson. It runs through this Sunday, the 20th. I was done last weekend and let’s just say that you need to go down and check it out. What’s that old line? Something old, something new? It works for fairs also!

We’re probably going to get some wheat planted in the next seven days IF we don’t have some in the ground already. If you are thinking about pasture then I guess I could accept a mid-September planting date. But if you are looking at grain production then you are simply too early and there’s no award for being the first one to get their wheat planted. Selecting that start of wheat planting is always a tricky business. For as long as I can remember, and based on some old old Extension Bulletins, our Hessian Fly Free date has been October 5th. Hessian Fly used to be a real bad problem, and it still can be. I find some damage every year, although to be right honest disease problems usually hurt us worse. You can use fly resistant varieties or use Gaucho (if you aren’t grazing) and reduce the fly risk. We also know from many K-State studies that in our area our best wheat yields will occur with planting dates between September 25th and October 15th. Planting earlier than the 25th causes some real fast yield reductions in most years. In fact planting five days early will hurt you much worse than planting five days later. Wheat planted the 15th through the 31st of October will yield less than that planted the first half of October, but usually the reduction is not that great. Given my choice I’d plant a little later than a little earlier. We also know that wheat streak mosaic and barley yellow dwarf will both be less of a problem with later planted wheat. Then we need to couple on top of that when harvest is going to start and how well that fall crop is standing. Figure out how many days it should take you to plant. Then back up from the 15th of October that many work days. If fall crops are a much bigger part of your farm then plant wheat around fall harvest. If wheat is the major player in your crop plan then plan harvest around wheat planting. In no case, except for grazing, should you be planting your wheat before September 25th. Set your priorities, keep an eye to the forecast and get ready to get busy!

This is Chuck Otte, County Extension Agent, with Ag Outlook '98

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