Kentucky Small Grain News

Annual ryegrass has been chosen as the central focus of the greenhouse and field research due its notable advantages and the compelling proof of its effectiveness.  Annual ryegrass roots apparently contain exudates that have a degrading effect on the fragipan. The deep root penetration also increases soil porosity and may facilitate the leaching of the 4 or 5 other effective compounds down to the fragipan.  We are presently looking for varieties of annual ryegrass that are more effective in breaking down the fragipan and varieties that are more easily killed by glyphosate.

The overall objective of the research trials were to develop the best recommendations for managing Fusarium head blight (FHB; also known as scab) and the associated mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON; also known as vomitoxin) with foliar fungicides.

Rye as a grain crop has a potential local market with distilleries. Rye has not been grown in Kentucky since the 1920’s. We have been conducting research for several years on growing rye for grain. In the 2019 harvest season, we established rye at Princeton and Lexington to test several management hypotheses and fungicide efficacy against the Fusuriaum head blight (FHB).

Stagonospora leaf blotch is one of the most common foliar diseases observed in Kentucky.  When flag leaves are affected by leaf blotch, yield losses generally occur.  Glume blotch also is a common disease in Kentucky, and can reduce yields and test weight.  One of the most common ways to manage these diseases is through application of foliar fungicides. 

This work is intended to answer the question: Are there long term soil health benefits to having wheat in Kentucky farmers’ crop rotation? Comparing wheat harvested for yield to wheat (or other small grain) as a cover crop, is it better for the soil to take wheat to grain harvest?

Ky Small Grain Growers voted to fund the following research and grower education projects last month, for a total investment of $286,441, in the 2018-2019 growing season. That brings the total Kentucky small grain research funding to $3.3 Million over the past 27 years. New projects this year include several focused on Kentucky rye production due to increased interest from local distilleries.