Assessing Winter Wheat Freeze Damage

Carrie Knott, Extension Agronomist-Princeton, University of Kentucky

Last night temperatures dipped below 24°F for several hours throughout Kentucky. Winter wheat at the jointing (Feekes 6) growth stage, was likely damaged by these cold temperatures.

To assess wheat freeze damage:

1. Wait until high temperatures are at least 40°F for 5 to 7 days. According to the projected weather forecast, most of the state will have high temperatures greater than 40°F the next 7 days. Assess freeze damage next Tuesday or Wednesday. Any earlier than the middle of next week may provide an inaccurate estimate of damage.

Freezing Temperatures Overnight May Damage Winter Wheat at Advanced Growth Stages in KY

Figure 1. Wheat heads showing freeze
damage at heading (Feekes 10.5)

Carrie Knott, Extension Agronomist-Princeton, University of Kentucky

Last night temperatures dipped to or below 24°F for several hours at many locations throughout Kentucky (Table 1). For winter wheat that has reached the jointing (Feekes 6) growth stage, damage (Figure 1) can occur to the developing wheat head, which is above the soil surface at jointing, when temperatures are 24°F or below for at least 2 hours.

Wheat: Earlier Aphid Occurrences May Be a Consequence of the 2017’s Warm Winter

Raul Villanueva, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky 

Figure 1. Pictures of the bird cherry oat aphid and
 a winged English grain aphid found in wheat fields
 in February 2017. (Photo credits Yaziri Gonzales).

In Kentucky there is a complex of aphid species that feeds on wheat. The bird cherry oat, the English
grain (Fig.1), the greenbug, and the corn aphids are the most important species. Their role as vectors of plant viruses, particularly Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV), branded them as the key pest on

wheat grain production. These aphid species overwinter as nymphs, and can be active when temperatures are above 45⁰ F. It is known that BYDV infections are more damaging when they occur in early growth stages of the wheat plant. Thus, aphids have more opportunities to infect young plants under this climatological circumstances.

Register for the UK WHEAT PRODUCTION FIELD SCHOOL: Hands-On Training

Edwin Ritchey, Extension Soil Specialists, University of Kentucky

The UK Wheat Science Group with support from the Kentucky Small Grain Growers' Association will offer three hands-on training sessions on managing wheat in Kentucky - GREEN-UP (March 8th) - PRIOR TO FLOWERING (April 26th) - PRE-PLANT (TBA).
These trainings are directed towards crop advisors and farm managers who provide agronomic guidance for wheat production. The sessions will be held on the UKREC Farm (1205 Hopkinsville Street in Princeton, KY) from 9am - 3:00pm CST (Lunch is included). Class size is limited to 30 people per training. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - see links below.  

Educational credits for the March 8th “GREEN-UP training” have been approved for the following: Pesticide Credits: 3 General Hours & 1 Specific Hours (Cat 1A, 10, 12) CCA Credits: 2.5 SW, 1 PM, 2.5 CM

2017 University of Kentucky Winter Wheat Meeting

Colette Laurent, Grain Crops Group Coordinator, University of Kentucky

The 2017 University of Kentucky Winter Wheat Meeting is slated for Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the James R. Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville, KY. Registration begins at 8:30am (CST). The meeting will run from 9am - 3pm. Lunch is sponsored by the Kentucky Small Grains Growers Association.

TOPICS AND SPEAKERS:
• Weed Problems in Winter Wheat - Garrett Montgomery
• Management of Stripe Rust and Fusarium Head Blight of Wheat - Carl Bradley
• Economic Tools for Improved Decision Making in Wheat Production - Jordan Shockley

2016 UK Wheat Field Day Talks Available Online

If you were not able to attend the 2016 UK Wheat Field Day and would like to see what you missed click on the following you tube links:

Preemergence and Postemergence Control of Italian Ryegrass in Wheat
UKREC Extension Weed Science Specialist Jim "Chip" discusses preemergence and post emergence control of Italian rye grass in wheat. Chip's final presentation at Princeton Wheat Field Day before his retirement this summer! 

Check out the latest "Wheat Science News"

The UK Wheat Science Group would like to invite you to check out the latest issue of the "Wheat Science News".

Included in this issue: Importance of Wheat Growth Stages • 2016 Kentucky Wheat Vomitoxin Survey Form • Wheat Outlook and Profitability Potential • Fungicide Efficacy Table for Wheat Diseases • Introduction of Dr. Raul Villanueva & Dr. John Grove • Upcoming Events for 2016

Visit the UK Wheat Science Group webpage for past issues of the newsletter and other wheat related information.

2016 UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WHEAT FIELD DAY

Colette Laurent, UK Grain Crops Coordinator

The annual UK WHEAT FIELD DAY is slated for Tuesday May 10, 2016 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton, KY.
Registration will begin at 8:00 am (CDT).  The tours will end at noon and field day will conclude with a lunch sponsored by the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association.


Field Day Topics Include:

Be on the Lookout for Wheat Rust Diseases

Carl A. Bradley, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Kentucky

Stripe rust (Fig. 1) was diagnosed by the Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at the UKREC this week in a wheat sample that came from Lyon County.  In addition, leaf rust (Fig. 2) of wheat has been observed in states south of Kentucky (Arkansas and Mississippi), and appears to be moving northward.  Some wheat varieties have high levels of resistance to these diseases; therefore, it is important to know the susceptibility of the varieties planted. Resistant varieties likely will not require any additional management for rust disease control; however, a foliar fungicide application may need to be considered for susceptible varieties. The 2016 multi-state university foliar fungicide efficacy table for wheat diseases can be found here:

Register for UK Small Grain Disease Workshop – February 5, 2016

Carl A. Bradley, University of Kentucky Extension Plant Pathologist

Fusarium head blight (head scab)

A small grain disease workshop will be held at the University of Kentucky Research & Education Center in Princeton, KY (1205 Hopkinsville Street) on February 5, 2016. This is an all-day event with pre-meeting coffee and snacks beginning at 8:00 AM and presentations beginning at 8:30 AM. The meeting includes a lunch sponsored by the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association and will adjourn at 4:00 PM. In addition to speakers from the University of Kentucky, the meeting will also feature speakers from Kansas State University, Purdue University, and Ontario, Canada.

There is no charge for this meeting, but PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. The meeting is limited to the first 150 people that register.

2016 UK Winter Wheat Meeting

Colette Laurent, Grain Crops Coordinator, University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky Winter Wheat Meeting is slated for Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at the James R. Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville, KY. Registration begins at 8:30 am (CST).  The meeting will run from 9am - 3pm.

Lunch is sponsored by the Kentucky Small Grains Growers Association.


Topics on wheat include:

Fall Nitrogen Considerations for Wheat in 2015

Edwin Ritchey, Lloyd Murdock, and Josh McGrath – Extension Soil Specialists, University of Kentucky

Many producers have completed or almost completed corn harvest and getting ready to start drilling wheat. One question that keeps coming up is the need for a fall nitrogen (N) application. In most years there is adequate residual N following corn. However most areas in Kentucky in 2015 had very good corn yields and a considerable amount of rainfall earlier in the season. Good corn yields coupled with high rainfall probably means that there is very little residual N remaining in the soil profile. Numerous studies at UK have not shown a consistent yield advantage to fall N applications for wheat. However, fall N does stimulate growth and establishment of the stand. Too much fall N could reduce yields by causing excessive growth and more winterkill.

Wheat Product Test Reveals Little Help for Yields

John H. Grove and William P. Bruening
Plant and Soil Sciences Department, University of Kentucky
The following is a progress report to the Kentucky Small Grains Growers Association.

The primary goal of this research is to provide new product information to wheat producers. New product releases, which occur every year, are often accompanied by weak performance evaluation information – often testimonials based on invalid comparisons. Chemical soil compaction treatments, liquid carbon and foliar nutrition products are already in the marketplace, and a new group of ‘biological/microbiological’ products is now emerging. Are any of these new materials going to be the “next big thing” in wheat production? The objective was to evaluate nine products intended to raise Kentucky wheat yield. Six products were specified by the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association.

Fall 2015 Wheat Planting Decision

Greg Halich, Extension Economist, University of Kentucky

Kentucky grain farmers have just started harvesting corn and are getting to the point where they will decide how much wheat they will plant this fall. In Kentucky, wheat is almost always planted in the fall following the harvest on corn ground, and then double-cropped with soybeans in early summer after the wheat harvest. This allows for two harvested crops in one calendar year. However, soybeans planted after the wheat harvest are more susceptible to summer drought, which means on average yields are lower for these double-cropped soybeans. In Kentucky, this yield reduction typically averages around 20%. As a consequence, the majority of soybeans planted in Kentucky are full-season plantings rather then double-cropped.

2015 UK Wheat Field Day

The annual UK Wheat Field Day is slated for Tuesday May 12, 2015 at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton, KY. Registration will begin at 8:30 and the tours will end at noon (CDT). The field day will conclude with a

FHB Prediction Tool Upgrade

Don Hershman, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Kentucky

Heads up! The new FHB (Head Scab) forecasting tool has a new feature.You can select the FHB susceptibility level of the variety you have planted.

Armyworm and Black cutworm Flights Continue

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky

Capture of armyworm (AW) and black cutworm (BCW) moths continue at a considerable, if slightly lower capture, compared to last week. The AW trap captured 449 moths while the BCW trap

Price Risk Management for Corn, Soybeans and Wheat

 Todd Davis, Extension Economist, University of Kentucky

The potential for farmers to lock-in substantial corn profits with a cash-forward contract has been limited so far this spring. Assuming the per bushel total variable cash costs plus per bushel cash rent for corn in Western Kentucky is $3.85/bushel, a cash-forward contract would not provide any cushion to cover fixed costs, service debt, provide for family living, and to fund future business growth.

Fall Armyworm Moth Captures Rebounding

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky

 Capture of fall armyworm moths (FAW) in the UK- IPM traps at the UK-REC in Princeton, KY have increased for the last two weeks. These captures are not as great as those from the known outbreaks of 2007 and 2012. Nevertheless, the current capture level is greater than the rolling five year average,

Wheat Disease Management for 2015 Starts Now

Don Hershman, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Kentucky

Wheat diseases reduce grain yield and/or quality in most years. Many wheat producers rely on foliar fungicides as their primary disease management weapon. Foliar fungicides are certainly an important disease management tool. However, pre-plant decisions made – that is, decisions being made right now for the 2015 wheat crop - have the greatest impact on which diseases develop during the season and to what extent. Thus, it is critical to make as many of the “right” decisions as possible to reduce the potential for diseases to reduce both grain yield and quality next spring.

For more on how pre-plant decisions impact disease potential, go to this link:
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/ext_files/PPFShtml/ppfsagsg6.pdf