Airing August 22 - 26, 2005
Controlling Volunteer Wheat
This is Ag Outlook 2005 on 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte, Geary County, K-State Research and Extension Ag & Natural Resources Agent. Well one thing that these recent rains and showers have done is to start getting that volunteer wheat sprouted and growing. And that means that between now and two weeks prior to wheat planting, you've got some work to do! While some of that volunteer wheat may look attractive for early fall cattle pasture, you'd really be better off to destroy it and plant some new. Volunteer wheat is a wonderful sponge to absorb all sorts of problems tha can then come back to haunt you and your neighbors later on. The one problem that is most strongly associated with volunteer wheat is wheat curl mites and wheat streak mosaic. Many produers think that this is a western Kansas problem, but we have some every year in Geary County. The key to controlling this disease is to control the critter that spreads it, the wheat curl mite. And the key to controlling the wheat curl mite is to make sure that all volunteer wheat adjacent or close to any fields to be planted this fall is destroyed at least two weeks prior to planting. This can be tillage, this can be with a burn down herbicide. Grazing volunteer with cattle does not control the mite. Additionally, planting after the hessian fly free date of October 5th will usually result in less risk of problems for not only this problem, but less risk for Barley Yellow Dwarf and of course Hessian Fly. I have not seen a lot of research results from using seed treatments like Gaucho or Cruiser to help control wheat curl mites. It may work, but the virus may also be transmitted into the wheat before they can be controlled by the insecticide. So, go back to the good old management controls. Destroy the volunteer wheat!
This has been Ag Outlook 2005 on the Talk of JC, 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte.
Hessian Fly
This is Ag Outlook 2005 on 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte, Geary County, K-State Research and Extension Ag & Natural Resources Agent. Hessian Fly used to be a very devestating insect pest in our wheat fields. But for the past couple of decades many wheat producers have all but forgotten about it. Resistant varieties and later planting have done a pretty good job of controlling Hessian Fly. But over the years, more and more of our newer varieties do not have hessian fly resistance bred into them. So it shouldn't be surprising, that I can find hessian fly damage every year, and in the past year or so, I have seen fields with as much as 40% damage and loss from fly. The whole Jagger pedigree line is susceptible to hessian fly. The 2100 series, 2137, 2145 and 2174, are all moderatley resistant to fly, but most of the good resistance that we have right now is in some of those Nebraska wheats, that unfortunately do not have soil borne mosaic resistance. So what do you do? Well, for starters, don't plant your wheat until after the fly free date of October 5th. Keep in mind that the fly free date is the date to plant, not the date of emergence. If you HAVE to plant earlier, then consider a couple of other options. First of all, use one of the varities that at least has moderate resistance. I know you don't want to add more cost to the wheat crop, but you can also use one of the insecticidal wheat seed treatments like Gaucho or Cruiser. These products can reduce or nearly eliminate hessian fly problems in early planted wheat and can also provide some control of the aphids that carry barley yellow dwarf. So let's all do our part to keep this old pest from getting to be such a big problem. Let's use resistant varieties when possible and always plant after the fly free date. This has been Ag Outlook 2005 on the Talk of JC, 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte.
Fertilizing Wheat
This is Ag Outlook 2005 on 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte, Geary County, K-State Research and Extension Ag & Natural Resources Agent. I was talking last week about soil testing wheat ground. One of the key reasons is that we don't want to put on any more expensive fertilizer than we have to, but another reason is to make sure that we don't limit or yield potential. Underfertilizing wheat may appear to save a few dollars per acre, but in reality is simply raises the cost per bushel to raise that wheat. The past 6 or 7 years really showed us what the genetic potential of these new wheat varieties can be. Sure, the 2005 wheat crop was one we'd want to forget, but those years will come along. One may be inclined to think that a lot of that nitrogen was left out in the field, but it may not have been. One won't know without a soil test. There have been questions about banding fertilizer to save some money. This can work to some extent with phosphorus and to a lesser degree with nitrogen. But to be right honest, you may be challenged to get as much fertilizer down in a band with the planter, especially nitrogen. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish though. Let's say you can save 3 or 4 dollars an acre by cutting your phosphorus rate in half and banding it. Is it really worth it? Okay, what kind of rates are we talking about? Well, what is your target yield goal. Forget 2005, it was an anomaly that should not enter into the picture. Look at the averages in the five years prior to 05. Pay special attention to 2003 - that was the year when we saw what could happen. And it happend because there was lots of carry over nitrogen. Bottom line is that you may need to consider total nitrogen applications of 100 pounds or even alittle bit more. The genetics are there, but only if you feed the factory right! This has been Ag Outlook 2005 on the Talk of JC, 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte.
This is Ag Outlook 2005 on 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte, Geary County, K-State Research and Extension Ag & Natural Resources Agent.
This has been Ag Outlook 2005 on the Talk of JC, 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte.
This is Ag Outlook 2005 on 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte, Geary County, K-State Research and Extension Ag & Natural Resources Agent.
This has been Ag Outlook 2005 on the Talk of JC, 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte.
This is Ag Outlook 2005 on 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte, Geary County, K-State Research and Extension Ag & Natural Resources Agent.
This has been Ag Outlook 2005 on the Talk of JC, 1420 KJCK, I'm Chuck Otte.
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