Autumn is seen as the best time of the year for many folks. The leaves are changing colors, cooler temperatures replace the unbearable summer heat, and the combines are harvesting this year’s crop. What could go wrong? This year, with the prolonged wet weather this fall, normal agricultural practices, timings and routines have been thrown off a bit. When it comes to the newly sowed winter wheat crop, there are a variety of issues that can affect its emergence and growth. Many of these can be detected while scouting.
The first problem producers might encounter after planting is poor stand establishment or uneven wheat stands. Poor stands can be caused by a number of problems, such as a plugged drill, poor seed quality, dry soil, planting depth, soil crusting, diseases or insects. This year in particular, dry soils or overly wet soils may be major factors that contributed to some of the poor emergence.
While out in the field, producers may also notice color variations visible among the wheat. Purple or yellow banding on the young leaves at emergence, called color banding, is an environmental problem caused by warm days with cool nights. Plants with whitish streaks on the upper surfaces of leaves may have suffered flea beetle injury. The effects are often present along one side of the field and older injuries are sometimes confused with wind damage or dry weather. In addition, there may be some parts of the field that appear yellowish. Greenbug infestations, which are more common after a frost, but before Christmas, will appear on the upper surface of leaves as clusters of pin-pricks that turn dark red. The affected leaves may turn yellow, and plant growth will slow.
Other factors that can contribute to a poor wheat stand can include soil nutrient issues, herbicide carry-over and several insects such as aphids, the hessian fly and fall armyworms. To get an accurate assessment of the situation, it’s best to scout wheat several times throughout the fall. This also offers a great opportunity to make note of the types and amounts of weeds present within the fields.
Although some factors that affect wheat emergence and growth cannot be changed, scouting can be a tool to help maximize the potential of the wheat for those factors that can be altered. Just like enjoying watching the leaves turn color in the fall, it is just as nice to watch a healthy wheat field turn golden in the summer.
For more information, contact Jeri Geren, Diversified Agriculture and Natural Resources, [email protected], 620-331-2690.