A website from UGA Cooperative Extension

News, events, and happenings in Colquitt County agriculture.


Rome Ethredge, CEA-retired and Dewey Lee, Professor-retired University of Georgia

1). Use deep tillage to disrupt hard pans.
Wheat responds well to deep tillage when hard pans are present in our soils, particularly
sandy soils. Prepare soils for planting by first tilling with a V-ripper, chisel plow, paraplow or
subsoiler. Firm the seed bed with a cultipacker or small, light disk to reduce deep ruts from
planting. Till the soil only to a depth necessary to break the hard pan. Simple disking is not as
effective as deep tillage but it is preferred over no-tilling wheat. No-till wheat can be productive
(mostly on heavy, clayey soils) but the yields, in general, are 5 to 25 bushels per acre less than
conventionally tilled wheat.


2). Plant high yielding, pest resistant, well adapted varieties.
Yield data for all the recommended varieties for Georgia are found in the current Georgia
Wheat Production Guide or Georgia Small Grain Variety Performance Test Bulletin
(www.swvt.uga.edu). Be sure to note each of the variety characteristics of the variety you
choose such as vernalization, maturity, lodging resistance, pest resistance so as to manage each
variety properly for highest yield.


Check with your local county Extension office for the latest information on recommended
varieties. While some may perform to satisfactory levels, others have characteristics that
may be too difficult to overcome with good management.


3). Plant the appropriate seeding rate for your planting method.
Wheat can be successfully established by either drilling or broadcasting the seed and
incorporating into the soil to a shallow depth of 1 to 1.5 inches. In general, drilling wheat yields
7 to 8% more yield. If incorporation of broadcast seed is poor, then yield differences are even
greater. In a drill, plant 22 to 25 seeds per row foot (7.5- inch drill width). This is equivalent to
approximately 35- 40 seeds per square foot. Use 10 to 15% more seed when planting after the
recommended planting window. When broadcasting the seed, calibrate the equipment to plant
40 seeds per square foot. If broadcasting, be careful in covering seed. Disk harrows can easily
bury seed too deeply, and vertical tillage can leave seed on top of the ground. Field cultivators
provide shallow incorporation and are more dependable in depth. When possible, always use
high quality, certified seed and save a tag of each separate lot for good record keeping.
Remember, bin-run seed can present more of a problem with contamination, loss of germination
and/or mix up in varieties. Also be aware that fungicide seed treatments are helpful during
warm, wet fall temperatures. See UGA pest control handbook for labeled treatments and rates.


4). Plant during your recommended planting period.
The recommended planting dates for Georgia are the seven days prior to and after the
five-year average first frost day for your farm. Varieties with long vernalization requirements
should be planted in the first seven to ten days prior to the first frost day. Extremely early
varieties with short vernalization requirements must be planted in the very last days of the
recommended window. These varieties will suffer winter injury if planted too early as they
would enter the jointing phase (Zadoks GS 32) prior to the time that sub-freezing temperatures
generally do not occur.


5). Scout fields for early insect infestations and control potentially damaging insects.
Hessian fly and aphids are the two insects generally causing yield loss in the fall. Control
insects by either planting resistant varieties and or using an approved insecticide. Protect wheat
from Hessian fly by planting resistant varieties or treating seed either with Cruiser®
(thiamethoxam), NipsIt Inside® (clothianidin) or a brand of imidacloprid. See the current Pest
Control hand book for proper rates: https://extension.uga.edu/content/dam/extension/programsand-services/integrated-pest-management/documents/handbooks/2021-pmh-commchapters/SmallGrain.pdf
These seed treatments are also effective against aphids. Aphids vector the Barley yellow
dwarf virus and it is important to protect wheat from this virus. For both insects, scout wheat
fields 25 to 35 days after emergence for the presence of either aphids or Hessian fly. Apply a
foliar approved pyrethroid insecticide if either is present and no seed treatment has been used.
Again, scout just prior to topdressing. If aphids are present, then combine insecticides with the
nitrogen fertilizer to prevent spring infestations. Thresholds and rates are listed in the Pest
Control handbook and Wheat Production Guide: https://grains.caes.uga.edu/content/dam/caessubsite/grains/docs/wheat/2020-2021-Wheat-Production-Guide.pdf

Control aphids when there are:
2 per row foot in the seedling stage, or
6 per row foot when plants are 6-10 inches
2 per stem at stem elongation
5 per flag leaf at boot stage
10 per head including flag
Do not treat in the soft dough stage.

6). Control weeds early to prevent yield loss. (PLEASE READ THE LABELS)
Fields should be free of weeds, especially ryegrass and radish at time of planting. Then
control ryegrass, wild radish, wild turnips, onions, garlic, henbit, chickweed, and vetch early
(usually around Christmas) for maximum weed control efficiency and high yield. Waiting to
control these weeds till the spring causes considerable yield loss due to lost tillers and reduced
herbicide effectiveness. Scout wheat 21 to 28 days after emergence. Note any weed
infestations. Control broadleaf weeds when weeds are small (i.e. 2 to 3 inch wild radish,
mustard). Products such as Quelex 0.2 WG or Harmony Extra with TotalSol® are preferred due
to their effectiveness and a large window of safe application; however, these herbicides often
miss radish larger than 3 inches. For larger radish, these herbicides should be mixed with MCPA
and applied at the appropriate wheat stage of growth. Do not apply 2, 4-D on wheat that is not
fully tillered or injury will occur. Also, do not apply 2,4–D to wheat beyond the first hollow
stem phase or injury will occur.


Control non-resistant ryegrass once plants emerge but before the first tiller for
maximum control. Products such as Axial Bold.0.685EC®, Osprey 4.5 WDG® and PowerFlex
13.13 HL WDG® are effective. Osprey and PowerFlex also have activity against small
broadleaves. For residual control of ryegrass, Zidua 85 WG® provides the greatest opportunity if
activated prior to ryegrass emergence and can be applied from spike through the 4 leaf wheat
stage. For fields with ryegrass resistant to postemergence herbicides, additional steps are needed.
Again, Zidua offers excellent ryegrass control if the herbicide is activated prior to the weed
emerging. Axiom 68 WG is fair on ryegrass and is labeled and best used at the spike
stage. Fierce 76 WDG is labeled for spike thru the 2-leaf stage. Do not apply preemerge or to
broadcast seeded wheat due to varying plant emergence. Please read the label carefully on any
chemical as to avoid any injury on your wheat. See the current Pest Control Handbook or Wheat
Production Guide for specific remarks, rates and timing information.


7). Soil test and apply all nutrients according to recommendations for high yield.

Wheat should be planted in soils that have a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. If fertilizing for the wheat
crop only, apply all phosphorus and potassium in the fall during seed bed preparation according
to soil test recommendations. Nitrogen should be used in the fall to encourage tiller production
prior to the onset of winter. Tillers produced in the fall generally produce the most grain per unit
area (generally fall tillers account for 85% of the final yield). It is important though, not to
over-fertilize with nitrogen as it may cause excessive growth and result in winter injury. In
general, apply N (based on the previous crop rotation) as follows:
Cotton: 35 to 40 lbs ac
Corn: 30 to 35 lbs ac
Fallow: 25 to 30 lbs ac
Soybeans: 15 to 20 lbs ac
Peanuts: 0 to 10 lbs ac


NOTE: If using poultry litter, obtain a nutrient analysis so as to adjust the rate of
application according to the nutrient content. In general, 2 tons per acre is sufficient for
fall growth. Applying more may increase risk to excessive growth and winter injury.


8). Topdress wheat with nitrogen in a timely manner in late winter and early spring.
During the later days of January, begin counting tillers to determine the need for
additional nitrogen applications for the proper tiller production. If tillers counts (a stem with at
least three leaves) exceed 80 or more per square foot at Zadoks GS 25, then apply all remaining
nitrogen at GS 30 (stem elongation). Usually this occurs during early to mid-February in the
southern half of Georgia. In extreme N. Ga, stem elongation may not occur till early March.
If the tiller count is less than 80 per square foot, then apply 30 to 40 lbs of N per acre to
encourage tiller production prior to the onset of stem elongation. Complete the topdressing prior
to 1st node stage. Nitrogen rates will vary according to the soil type, variety lodging resistance,
irrigation capability, previous crop, etc. In general, total N rates range from 100 lbs N per acre to
120 lbs N. Be sure to include sulfur with the nitrogen. Sulfur deficiencies occur when the ratio
of nitrogen in a tissue test exceeds 18:1. Tank mix an approved pyrethroid if aphids are present
to reduce the risk to the barley yellow dwarf virus. Supply 15 to 20 lbs of S per acre if soils are
sandy.


9). Scout fields for diseases.
Powdery mildew, stripe rust, leaf rust and leaf and glume blotch are diseases that can be
controlled with an approved fungicide application. Begin scouting fields closely when the plant
starts jointing reaches GS 32-37 (Feekes GS 7-8). In general, powdery mildew and stripe rust
will likely appear first. If no disease is present by Heading GS 58 (Feekes 10.5) but expected,
then apply the proper rate of your fungicide choice to maintain the high yield potential and test
weight. See the current Pest Control Handbook or Wheat Production Guide for rate and timing
information.
Another disease that has become worse in the past few years, Fusarium Head Blight aka scab,
can cause yield loss, low-test weights, low seed germination, and contamination of grain with
mycotoxins. Yearly incidence is tied to weather during flowering. Fungicide sprays specific for
scab are useful but timing is critical.
FHB is best recognized on emerged immature heads where part or the entire head appears
prematurely bleached. Usually a pinkish/orange mycelium is present.


10). Harvest as early as possible.
Soft red winter wheat easily sprouts when the grain is exposed to rainy conditions after
maturity. Harvest the crop as soon as possible to avoid field losses and to maintain good quality
grain. Dry the grain if harvesting above 15% moisture. Usually, wheat can be easily harvested
between 16-18% moisture

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