In this podcast episode, Dr. Nutifafa Adotey and Dr. Jake McNeal addresses post-harvest soil and nutrient management questions sent in by local UT Extension agents.
You can learn more in the publications on estimating supplemental nitrogen following extended flooding and urease inhibitors, as referenced in the episode.
Check back soon for more segments covering topics related to soil and row crop agriculture!
I’ve gotten a few calls on fall armyworms (FAW) infesting cover crop wheat and production wheat. FAW, in large enough numbers, will defoliate a wheat field if left uncontrolled and UT’s FAW threshold is four worms per square foot. To date, pyrethroids have been providing satisfactory control of FAW in soybeans and pastures and the same can be assumed for wheat. Pyrethroids are the most economic option but also provide the shortest residual (3-5 days). Other options include Vantacor, Besiege and Radiant/Blackhawk. Insecticide seed treatments for Hessian Fly and/or aphids won’t control FAW and if numbers exceed threshold a foliar spray may be required. Another option is to delay wheat planting until after October 15th (Hessian Fly Free Date) as infestations of fall armyworm almost always occur in early planted wheat, especially for wheat planted in September.
The two best fall-applied options for ryegrass and poa control in wheat are Anthem Flex and Zidua. Pyroxasulfone is providing the grass control in both these herbicides. Anthem Flex can be applied as a true PRE right behind the press wheel. Keep in mind there is some chance of wheat injury from this use if a rain occurs shortly after planting. As such, if rain is in the forecast wait and apply it later as a delayed PRE or early POST. Continue reading
This year’s County Standardized Trials, Wheat Program tested 23 varieties of Soft Red Winter Wheat in 10 locations. Seven of those locations where used to compile our variety recommendations for the 2024 fall planting. Over all, yields across varieties and locations averaged just over 76 bu/ac, with an average of 10.4% moisture and 55.1 lb testweight.
Thank you to all the producer who put these trials out and the County Agents who organized and oversee these variety plots. Also, a special thanks to our cooperating companies who supply seed and genetics to test in our environment. Wheat yields have increased dramatically over the years, better genetics and breeding programs along with state and local testing are proving to add weight to the combine and increase profits for wheat growers in TN.
If you are interested in having a County Standardized Trial (Corn, Soy, Cotton, Wheat) on your farm, contact your local County Extension office for more details.
This Fall, contact your seed suppliers and request wheat seed from the list above with confidence from our unbias variety testing program.
Most wheat in Tennessee is in the flowering period, the highest period for susceptibility to scab/FHB infection. There are multiple factors that can contribute to a field’s Scab/FHB risk.
As wheat is approaching flag leaf stage in Tennessee, start scouting if you haven’t already for disease. Depending on variety susceptibility you may already see powdery mildew and/or wheat blotch (Septoria and/or Stagonospora blotch); but if no disease present start considering Fusarium Head Blight management. Continue reading
Ryegrass has become a serous weed issue in some fields that past couple of years. A major reason for this is that much of it is now glyphosate-resistant. Even if clethodim is used rather than glyphosate often it is applied on ryegrass sometime in late March through April when the grass is too well established to provide consistent control. Continue reading
The two best fall-applied options for ryegrass and poa in wheat are Anthem Flex and Zidua. Pyroxasulfone is providing the grass control in both these herbicides. Anthem Flex can be applied as a true PRE right behind the press wheel. Keep in mind there is some chance of wheat injury from this new use pattern if a rain occurs shortly after planting. As such, if rain is in the forecast wait and apply it later as a delayed PRE or early POST. Continue reading