Green up in Ohio is well underway led by the wheat stands that survived with flying colors. In some areas of the state, those vigorous stands are the exception rather than the rule. Way too many fields will be converted to corn and soybeans due to thin populations and large bare spots. Of course, some farmers say they cannot afford to grow wheat anyway, with corn and soybean prices as high as they are. However, for those farmers who appreciate the rotation benefit boost of 5 percent or more for subsequent corn and soybean crops on farms utilizing a three-crop rotation, failure of a wheat stand is a significant disappointment. And, with many fields likely to be transitioned to other crops, dairy and livestock farmers who rely on wheat straw have expressed concern about straw supply and price this summer.

Reasons for poor stands are numerous and sometimes cumulative. Many producers cite last year’s late harvest of soybean fields, coupled with wet field conditions, as reasons for not being able to seed wheat on a timely basis. Thus, countless fields were seeded after mid October, allowing little time for proper establishment prior to winter. Some that same acreage was almost “mudded” in, especially in less well-drained areas, the same spots that look almost bare now.

The greenest stands mostly reflect timely seeding after early fall soybean or corn silage harvest on well drained soils. In many of those fields, tile lines show up as dark green lines and surface drains successfully moderated ponding from excessive precipitation. The best looking fields likely received commercial or organic fertilizer last fall as well; or have a history of generous manure applications.  

Last week, fertilizer rigs were running hard, either top dressing wheat and hay stands, or broadcasting phosphorus and potash for upcoming corn and soybean crops. Top wheat growers recognize that while an early green up nitrogen application may entice plant tillering, the bulk of the nitrogen is not needed before late April most years. 

The March 20 edition of Ohio State University Extension’s CORN Newsletter (http://corn.osu.edu) has an excellent article on application timing and determining the amount of N to apply.  

In lieu of the mild winter, questions have popped up about wheat vernalization. OSU Extension Plant Pathologist Pierce Paul thoroughly detailed that subject in the CORN Newsletter. Dr. Paul wrote that exposure to a period of cold weather is necessary for our winter wheat to produce heads and grain. The cold temperatures provoke hormonal and chemical changes in the plant that are required for it to convert from vegetative to reproductive growth. That process, vernalization, makes the plant switch from producing leaves and stems to producing heads with grain. Timing of exposure to cold temperatures relative to the growth stage of the plant is critical to the process. After planting in the fall, warm temperatures are required for rapid germination, growth and tiller development, followed by cold temperatures in late fall to winter, for vernalization to occur. Although we have had a mild winter, there were enough days with average daily temperatures below 40F for the process to happen.  

Dr. Paul also shared timely comments about adequate stand determination. He noted that some of the now-thin stands could yet be salvageable. Over the next several weeks, some tillering may still occur in fields that were planted late last fall.  He advises farmers to walk fields, counting the number of plants or tillers per foot of row to estimate the population. Yield potential is reduced if tiller numbers fall below 25 per square foot after green up. The number of tillers per square foot is equal to the number of tillers in 19.2 inches of seven-inch wide rows or 14.5 inches of 10 inch wide rows.  

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Roger Bender may write to him in care of this publication.