Category Archives: Wheat
Resources For Wheat Fungicide Decisions
This week I’ve gotten calls asking about fungicide decisions in wheat – is an application needed or not? While the initial conversation is on Fusarium Head Blight (FHB/scab) and the forecasting models available for FHB, I also mention other diseases to be mindful of – since in Tennessee and more general the Mid-South, FHB is not an annual issue; but rusts and leaf spots can be. Here I’ve provided links to the resources I go over in a short video (~12 minutes). Continue reading
The Best Chance to Stop Ryegrass in Wheat is with Fall-Applied Pyroxasulfone
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 may be applied as a true PRE right behind the drill. Oftentimes this use pattern is safe for wheat. However, some stand reduction may occur if wheat is planted and Anthem Flex is applied PRE to dry soil and a rain event happens shortly after sowing. As such, if rain is in the forecast wait and apply it later as a delayed PRE or early POST.
Zidua is typically applied delayed PRE to early POST. The earlier it can be applied the more effective it can be as it has no impact on emerged ryegrass. The earliest it can be applied as defined by the label is as a delayed PRE. The Zidua label defines delayed PRE as when 80% of germinated wheat seeds have a shoot at least ½” long until wheat spiking.
In past years, many have tankmixed metribuzin with Zidua or Anthem Flex. Metrubuzin can cause some significant wheat injury. Predicting wheat injury with metribuzin can be very challenging as so many factors are involved. Weather, wheat maturity, soil type, metribuzin rate and variety sensitivity all play a role on if injury will occur or not. As such I would recommend to NOT tankmix in metribuzin. The main weed target for metribuzin is poa. The pyroxasulfone should keep poa from emerging and therefore metribuzin does not provide much benefit. That weighed against the chance of considerable crop injury when applied to wheat just getting established really points to keeping
Perennial Vine Management in Corn and Soybean

There have been increasing issues with perennial vine infestations in soybean and corn fields in recent years. The two most commonly found species are honeyvine milkweed and trumpet creeper. Others that show up less frequently are hedge bindweed, burcumcumber and Carolina coralbead. Continue reading
County Standardized Trials-Wheat Harvest
2025 CST Wheat Results
Last fall, we planted 10 locations and had 6 of those make it into the table. We lost the others to this wet weather that seems to stick around. Overall, better yields around W. TN than I was expecting. We had several acres planted a little later than hoped for and then a wet sparing had quality and yield goals questionable.
80 bu. average across our 18 varieties in 6 locations. A tight group with a 10 bushel range keeps the mean separation close at a 95% confidence interval.

Yields have been adjusted to 13.5% moisture. Each variety is evaluated in large strip-plots at each location, thus each county test is considered as one replication of the test in calculating the average yield.
Statistical analysis is conducted at 95% confidence interval. Varieties with the same MS letter are not significantly different.
Official test weight of No. 2 wheat= 58 lbs/bu. TWT was averaged from 5 locations.
(‘) indicates a missing plot, SAS calculated yield.
Thank you to all those producers, agents, and industry for your support with our CST programs.
Please contact your local County Extension office for more information.
Wheat Diseases and Fungicide Considerations
While wheat varies in growth stage across Tennessee, it’s time to consider fungicide and scout for diseases. To date, little to no disease has been reported in wheat fields in Tennessee. Continue reading
Post-harvest soil fertility consideration
Play podcast
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!
Fall Armyworms in Production & Cover Crop Wheat
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.



