Kansas

Soon it will be time to hitch the drill to the tractor and head to the field and plant wheat. With dozens of varieties to choose from and a nearly infinite variation in seed quality, deciding what to put in your drill can be perplexing.

Most experts agree that variety selection is paramount. Superior seed quality won't help if the variety is not adapted to your area and farming practices. Using the K-State Wheat Variety Performance Test can be a good starting place to find the varieties best adapted for your region. Check with your county extension office for a copy of the test or visit www.ksu.edu/kspct.

Talking with local seed dealers and other farmers is another good way to find out what varieties might work for you. Remember to ask about farming practices. Irrigation, crop rotation and tillage can have a significant affect on diseases. If a variety is susceptible to a disease that is supported by your farming practices you should be prepared to use a fungicide.

Once you have chosen your variety, then you should consider the quality of the seed you are going to plant. Germination is the most important factor. If it won't produce a healthy sprout, nothing else matters. Although Wheat seed usually has good germination, it is still a good idea to get it tested by a professional lab. Home test methods often miss abnormal seedlings and disease, thereby handicapping the crop. Saving $15 is hardly worth putting a crop at risk.

Within a variety, bigger is better. Research has shown with Wheat seed that the larger, heavier seed will emerge faster and from deeper depths than the smaller, lighter seeds. These bigger seeds also will produce better yields. But remember, bigger seeds of one variety may not do better than smaller seeds of a different variety, because variety adaptation is still the most important.

Modern seed conditioning equipment can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but it can remove inferior seeds. The air/screen cleaner, or fanning mill, is the basic piece of equipment needed for cleaning Wheat into seed. The scalping screen removes straw and other items larger than the Wheat seed; the sifting screen removes weed seed, broken and immature Wheat kernels; and, the air system removes the chaff and other lightweight Wheat seed. Starting with good seed is important, otherwise it is "junk in, junk out."

Using Certified seed is the most convenient way to assure getting the best seed. Most Certified seed producers have several varieties to choose from and can get other varieties when needed. They know what does well in the area and can make recommendations for your particular operation. Certified seed is inspected in the field to assure varietal identity and purity. It is professionally cleaned to remove unwanted weeds and small seed. And, it is tested for germination and purity to assure the quality of the seed.

For more information about Wheat variety selection, seed conditioning, seed testing or certification, contact Kansas Crop Improvement Association at 785-532-6118 or kscrop@kansas.net.

Date: 8/25/05