Air June 27, 2001

Thank you Mark, and good morning everyone. Harvest is really rolling full now and if the rain could hold off just a couple more days we’ll be in good shape. Let me touch on several issues in relation to the wheat harvest in a minute. A lot of calls about weeds in pastures. Most of what folks are bringing in are native forbs that are not really a problem they are in fact beneficial to the pasture and the cattle in the long run. What looks like an increase is partly a result of last years drought and may also be due in part to overgrazing. Let’s evaluate pastures and then decide as the year rolls along what changes in management we may need to make.

If you are keeping wheat seed back, first of all make sure it was some that you harvested yourself and didn’t use a custom harvester who’d been in the Texas panhandle before coming up here. We don’t need to risk anything with that Karnal Bunt. First of all, seed you keep back should be dry, which shouldn’t be a problem this year, preferably under 12 % and under 11 would be even better. You won’t be binning it for long, but even 60 days is long enough to cause problems if it isn’t dry! Secondly, save the best quality seed back. That usually means the heaviest. I’d prefer to see nothing under 60 pounds per bushel kept, and 62 would be even better. If you have to keep lighter weight wheat, keep it at least up to 58 and then have it rigorously cleaned regardless. I would also take the time to have it treated with a seed protectent at the same time to guard against several seedling diseases as well as bunt and smut. If you have any questions on cleaning or seed treatments, give me a call.

There’s quite a few producers wanting to do some double cropping after wheat. There’s a real temptation to throw a match in the stubble and plant in the smoldering remains. If you don’t have a planter that can handle the residue then I guess that’s the only choice you have. If you have a good no till planter or drill, you’d be better off, in the long run, to leave that residue on there. Be sure to innoculate with fresh innoculant that hasn’t gotten hot. IF you can put on some starter fertilizer do that also. Remember, moisture can be precious, so be sure to preserve it.

This is Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent, with Ag Outlook 2001.

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