Wheat crop just needs warmer temperatures

By Larry Dreiling and Doug Rich

The first week of April is very early in the growing season for wheat growers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. A lot can happen to wheat between now and harvest.

John Deere Crop System Specialists Brian Ganske and Nate Meier scouted the crop in between stops on the Small Grain Solutions tour. Overall, the crop is in very good condition with very few problems at this point.

Growers in Oklahoma and Kansas know that can change in a hurry. Last year, one of the best-looking Oklahoma wheat crops in recent times was flooded out. Much of it was not even harvested. The Kansas wheat crop was devastated by an early spring freeze.

In a field near Clinton, Okla., Ganske noticed weed pressure from henbit, mustard and rye.

"It is too late to treat henbit now," Ganske said.

Insect pests were few and far between at this point in the season. A few greenbugs and bird cherry oat aphids were found, but not near any economic threshold.

Similar weed problems were noticed in fields near Wichita, Kan. After last year's freeze damage, volunteer wheat has been a problem in many fields. Many producers burned their crop off last summer to avoid any problems with volunteer wheat.

The crop looks good in south central Kansas. All it needs is warmer temperatures to kick start it after a long cold winter.

The same conditions exist in western Nebraska as well.

"Things are really, really good here," Ganske said. "Stands look great. They're the kind you want every year. I know I would."

One thing the CSS team noted was that the good wheat was tempered by improper seeding techniques, which showed up in fields that potentially could have had even better stands.

"This was variable rate seeding in a way we really wouldn't have liked to have seen," Ganske said.

"We've also seen compaction from driving large equipment and semis into our fields. We need to use our driveways in the right way. We won't get wheat in those spots, we'll get weeds. It is a good idea to watch where you are driving."