Plant ‘25 is roaring ahead, and Wheat Pete is bringing a jam-packed episode of this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word with sharp agronomy insights, listener Q&A, and a dash of international agronomic context. From nitrogen strategies to manganese myths and root-zone revelations, this week’s podcast is all about making timely, informed decisions in spring.
Have a question you’d like Wheat Pete to address or some field results to send in? Agree/disagree with something he’s said? Leave him a message at 1-888-746-3311, send him a tweet (@wheatpete), or email him at [email protected].
Summary
- Fast-moving wheat? Adjust nitrogen plans – In much of Ontario, it’s time to move to a single application if lodging risk is low
- Growth regulator timing – Hit stage 30–31 for optimal PGR efficacy, especially for lodging-prone varieties (tune in Monday for more on this on The Agronomists!
- Field stages vary widely – From snow-covered wheat in Earlton to flag leaf in Texas, timing advice depends on your local conditions
- Manganese madness – Foliar only, separate pass needed. Soil tests? Often unreliable. More here
- Don’t tank mix with 28%+ATS – Manganese, herbicides, and ammonium thiosulphate don’t play nice—do a jar test or skip it
- Why soil tests mislead on Mn – pH and moisture swings make manganese availability hard to predict
- Let the field tell you – Don’t apply manganese if you’ve never seen deficiency symptoms before
- Fall manganese matters – Skipping a fall Mn rescue can cost you winter survival in vulnerable fields
- Corn row mystery: Mn or roots? – Residual fertility boosts root growth, which may improve manganese uptake in odd ways
- UK gout fly lessons – When environmental rules block insecticide use, agronomy pays the price. A cautionary tale
- Reminder: 2×2 band beats broadcast on corn – Corn roots can’t chase surface phosphorus—targeted placement wins every time
- Potash and wheat straw yield? Meh – Ontario data shows negligible yield bump. Spring wheat may be different
- Cool example from Dr. Dave – One volunteer wheat seed: 200 tillers. Wheat’s resilience never ceases to amaze
- Dry seeding in Idaho – Contrasts across North America reflect just how localized agronomy must be
- VR nitrogen on corn falls short – High-yield zones mineralize more N, needing less added input per bushel
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