As Ontario cereal specialist Peter Johnson says, farmers aren’t satisfied ’til they’ve (mentally) killed the winter wheat crop three times. So, it’s no surprise then, that as the earliest fields are appearing from under the snow (sigh, alas, not yet in all areas), many farmers are concerned with how the crop looks and whether or not it’s time to pull the trigger on some input decisions.
In this Wheat School episode, Johnson explains why snow is more your friend than standing water, highlights a few areas and instances of where the winter wheat crop may have fall killed or winter killed and who should be most worried about snow mold.
Next up, Johnson describes (and shows us!) how to gauge winter survival of the crop, and then moves on to the all-important nitrogen discussion. A big fan of split N rates, @WheatPete reminds farmers that applying N before the frost is out of the ground is not only wasteful, it’s environmentally irresponsible. Don’t be an N waster! When SHOULD you be applying N? And how much? What if the wheat doesn’t make it? He tackles those questions, too.
And, finally, (yes, it’s a doozy, but this is Peter Johnson, the man likes to talk), red clover. Do you go single or double cut? What if my wheat crop looks a little thin? He offers some insight into strategies for both low-potential and high-potential wheat crops.
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