Wheat

Agronomy News monthly updates on Fusarium Head Blight

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September Grain Market Summary

Dairy farmers are constantly looking for sources of forage to meet their feed needs. One source that many of our region’s dairy farmers utilize is the fall planting of cereal grains that are green-chop harvested the following spring. Among the cereal species used for this purpose are rye, triticale, barley, and wheat. Per the Maryland Cover Crop Program guidelines, cereal grains planted as a cover crop prior to November 5 and suppressed via green-chop in the spring are eligible for the grant payment for participation in the Cover Crop Program. In addition, per the Nutrient Management Regulations, a fall application of dairy manure is allowed to a field planted to a cereal cover crop.

Results of the 2021 Maryland Wheat and Barley Variety Trials are now available. The trials evaluate wheat and barley yield, head scab/DON, and growth of select varieties planted across the state of Maryland. Data is used to help farmers and crop advisors select the best performing varieties. When picking varieties, remember to select varieties that have good yield stability and have good resistance to Fusarium head blight.

Alfalfa weevils emerge and lay eggs in alfalfa stems in Mid-April. The larvae are yellowish-green with blackheads. The easiest way to scout for this pest is to randomly collect 30 stems from the field and shake them into a bucket. The economic threshold for alfalfa weevil is determined based on the height of plants, the value of the forage, and the cost of insecticidal treatment. A threshold chart can be found on the PennState Extension website https://extension.psu.edu/alfalfa-weevil (Figure 1).

Fall and winter weather can affect wheat stands. This article outlines how to evaluate your wheat stands to determine if they have more value as a grain crop or a cover crop based on plant population and yield potential.

Combines will be rolling very soon to harvest wheat, soon followed by the planter to get double-crop soybeans in the ground. As you know, for both wheat and soybeans, time is of the essence to maximize yields. This article is intended to be a reminder of how important timely harvest and rapid planting are for a double-crop system.