Kentucky Small Grain News

Planting season is right around the corner for those in Kentucky growing winter wheat this year. Are you thinking about adjusting management practices by increasing seeding rates or adding phosphorus in anticipation of increased yields? Have you ever wondered how planting and harvest timings affect winter wheat yields? Over the past three years, Dr. Katherine Rod (former Plant and Soil Science graduate student) and Dr. Carrie Knott conducted research, funded by the KY Small Grain Growers’ Association, to answer these questions.

Beautiful early-fall conditions are resulting in another early corn harvest this year, and Kentucky grain farmers will soon decide if and how much wheat they will plant this fall. Compared to last year, there is a significant increase in wheat prices and a slight increase in soybean prices. These changes will make planting wheat more attractive relative to last year.

Read the latest news from the UK Wheat Science Group. This newsletter includes articles on wheat variety selection, residual herbicides, wheat management using historical climate data, and other useful resources.

Fertilizer applications can influence the overall yield and profit of crop production systems. Phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and lime additions for winter wheat production should be based on a good soil sampling and testing protocol. A soil test is recommended every two years or less, depending on the crop rotation and individual field knowledge.

It has been about eight days since the May8/9 freeze occurred. This is about the minimal time needed to begin seeing initial freeze damage. At this point, a fairly accurate assessment of damage should be able to be made, but as days progress the damage will become much more evident.

Some of the early-planted wheat and even some wheat planted ‘on time’ within the first two to three weeks of October is beginning to head. This is quite concerning given how early in the spring it is.

This spring, grain producers across the Midwest, including those in pockets of Kentucky, are dealing with grain quality issues in storage bins that are causing problems during unloading.