Wheat Management Calendar

Published Apr. 2020|Id: L-490

By Amanda de Oliveira Silva, Brian Arnall, Hailin Zhang, Tom Royer, Bob Hunger, Misha Manuchehri

Fall Management Decisions (part 1 of 2)
	July	August	September	September
			Germination-Emergence
Crop management (Amanda Silva)	Variety selection Use the OSU variety trial results and field history to select varieties adapted to your region and production system. It is recommended to plant varieties with different maturity ranges and resistant to the most prevalent diseases in your area.			Optimum time for planting dual-purpose system Planting around mid-September reduce risks from Hessian fly infestations and allow time for good forage growth
	Prepare seed bed Buy good-quality seeds		Select varieties without high temperature germination sensitivity Planting around mid-September reduce risks from Hessian fly infestations and allow time for good forage growth
	Control volunteer wheat Volunteer wheat must be completely dead for two weeks before planting a new wheat crop. Volunteer wheat can be killed with herbicides or tillage Volunteer wheat work as a "green bridge" for mites that can transmitt viruses diseases (WSMV, HPV, TrMV) and aphids (BYDV). Incresase risk from Hessia Fly instations.

Nutrient management (Brian Arnall & Hailing Zhang)	soil sampling			Apply N, P and K for dual-purpose system

	Apply lime if soil test recommends Apply lime in acid soils early in the season, since soil acidity is a wide spread yield limiting factor in the state. Wheat varieties differ in their ability to grow under low soil pH. Optimum soil pH range for wheat is between 5.5 and 7.0		Add N-rich strips

Insects (Tom Royer)				Scout for fall armyworm The suggested treatment threshold is 2-3 larvae per linear foot of row in wheat with active feeding



Diseases (Bob Hunger)		If early planting, consider seed treatment

Weeds (Misha Manuchehri)	Preplant burndown herbicides or tillage prior to planting		Apply PRE or delayed PRE herbicides

Fall Management Decisions (part 2 of 2)
	October	October	November	December
	Germination-Emergence		Tillering	Tillering/Dormancy
Crop management (Amanda Silva)		Optimum time for planting grain-only system	Assess crown root development before grazing	Environment and genetics influence tillering capacity
	Select varieties without high temperature germination sensitivity Planting around mid-September reduce risks from Hessian fly infestations and allow time for good forage growth	3 leaves developed before tillering start and crown roots developing	Turn out cattle	Assess plant stands Plants may shown some cold injury, but should grow out of it
	Perform stand count		Test wheat forage for nutritive quality if grazed

Nutrient management (Brian Arnall & Hailing Zhang)		Apply N, P and K grain-only system	Use a GreenSeeker to assess crop N status

	Add N-rich strips

Insects (Tom Royer)	Scout for fall armyworm The suggested treatment threshold is 2-3 larvae per linear foot of row in wheat with active feeding

			Scout for greenbug

Diseases (Bob Hunger)

Weeds (Misha Manuchehri)	Apply PRE or delayed PRE herbicides		Apply PRE/POST herbicides for fall/winter emerging weeds

Spring Management Decisions (part 1 of 2)
Management	January	February	March	March
	Dormancy	Green-up	Jointing	Flag leaf emergence

Crop management (Amanda Silva)	Varieties require from 2 to 6 weeks of vernalization (with T<50F)	Start leaf elongation	Plant erect and first node
		Assess First Hollow Stem (FHS) Growth stage which occurs just prior to jointing. Time to remove cattle from the field if producer is in a dual purpose system	Assess First Hollow Stem	Assess spring-freeze injury The later it occurs during head and grain development the more it affects grain yield (temperature <24F can harm the developing head)
		Remove cattle before FHS if in DP system	Remove cattle before FHS if in DP system
		Count tillers per plant and estimate heads per sq. ft.
	Test wheat forage for nutritive quality if grazed	Test wheat forage for nutritive quality if grazed	Test wheat forage for nutritive quality if grazed

Nutrient management (Brian Arnall & Hailin Zhang)	top-dress N application I		top-dress N application II
	Use a GreenSeeker to assess crop N status	Use a GreenSeeker to assess crop N status	Use a GreenSeeker to assess crop N status Aphid numbers average 10-20 per tiller, figure on a 5% loss, if 20-40 per tiller, figure a 7% loss, and if aphids are more than 40 per tiller, figure a 9% yield loss.
	Add N-rich strips

Insects (Tom Royer)	Scout for army cutworm Management of foliar diseases is critical to maintaining yield potential and producing quality grain
		Scout for aphids;


Diseases (Bob Hunger)		Apply fungicide for foliar disease management;



Weeds (Misha Manuchehri)		Apply PRE/POST herbicides for winter/spring emerging weeds
		Be cautious of products that cannot be applied past jointing or flag leaf emergence.

Spring Management Decisions (part 2 of 2)
Management	April	April	May	June
	Boot	Heading	Grain filling	Physiological maturity

Crop management (Amanda Silva)
	Assess spring-freeze injury The later it occurs during head and grain development the more it affects grain yield		Attend to field days! Evaluate varieties for next season	Harvest

			Evaluate varieties for next season


Nutrient management (Brian Arnall & Hailin Zhang)
			Head scab (Fusarium head blight) reduces yield and causes significant problems by resulting in grain with high levels of mycotoxins


Insects (Tom Royer)	Scout for armyworm
	Scout for aphids;


Diseases (Bob Hunger)	Apply fungicide for foliar disease management;

		Apply fungicide to manage head scab

Weeds (Misha Manuchehri)		Scout fields for identification of winter annual grass weeds that are headed out.
	Be cautious of products that cannot be applied past jointing or flag leaf emergence.	Harvest aid herbicides may be considered.

Crop Management:
ID	Title	URL
DASNR App Listing	Wheat Variety Selection Tool app	http://www.dasnr.okstate.edu/apps
CR-2143	2018-2019 Small Grains Variety Performance Tests;	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/2018-2019-small-grains-variety-performance-tests.html
PSS-2142	Wheat Variety Comparison;	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/wheat-variety-comparison.html
PSS-2256	Factors Affecting Wheat Germination and Emergence in Hot Soils;	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/factors-affecting-wheat-germination-and-emergence-in-hot-soils.html
PSS-2147	First Hollow Stem: A Critical Wheat Growth Stage for Dual-purpose Producers;	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/first-hollow-stem-a-critical-wheat-growth-stage-for-dual-purpose-producers.html
PSS-2157	Impact of Grazing on Wheat Grain Yield	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/impact-of-grazing-on-wheat-grain-yield.html

Nutrient Management: Plant and Soil Sciences publications;
Factsheet ID	Title	URL
CR-2277	Applying Nitrogen-Rich Strips	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/applying-nitrogen-rich-strips.html
PSS-2278	Using the GreenSeeker Handheld Sensor and Sensor-Based Nitrogen Rate Calculator	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/using-the-greenseeker-handheld-sensor-and-sensor-based-nitrogen-rate-calculator.html
PSS-2207	How to Get a Good Soil Sample	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/how-to-get-a-good-soil-sample.html
PSS-2225	OSU Soil Test Interpretations	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/osu-soil-test-interpretations.html

IPM- Pests, Diseases and Weeds
Factsheet ID	Title	URL
EPP-7086;	Hessian Fly Management in Oklahoma Winter Wheat	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/hessian-fly-management-in-oklahoma-winter-wheat.html
CR-7088;	Effect of Planting Date and Seed Treatment on Diseases and Insect Pests of Wheat	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/effect-of-planting-date-and-seed-treatment-on-diseases-and-insect-pests-of-wheat.html
EPP-7328;	Wheat Streak Mosaic, High Plains Diseases and Triticum Mosaic: Three Mite-transmitted Virus Diseases of Wheat in Oklahoma	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/wheat-streak-mosaic-high-plains-disease-and-triticum-mosaic-three-virus-diseases-of-wheat-in-oklahoma.html
PSS-7668;	Foliar Fungicides and Wheat Production in Oklahoma	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/foliar-fungicides-and-wheat-production-in-oklahoma-march-2016.html
PSS-2138;	Split Versus Single Applications of Fungicides to Control Foliar Wheat Diseases	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/split-versus-single-applications-of-fungicides-to-control-foliar-wheat-diseases.html
PSS-2136;	Considerations When Rotating Wheat Behind Corn	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/considerations-when-rotating-wheat-behind-corn.html
PSS-2145;	Fusarium Head Blight (Head Scab) of Wheat: Questions and Answers	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/fusarium-head-blight-head-scab-of-wheat-questions-and-answers.html
PSS 2791;	Herbicide Programs for Italian Ryegrass Control in Winter Wheat	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/herbicide-programs-for-italian-ryegrass-control-in-winter-wheat.html
PSS-2787;	Weedy Mustards of Oklahoma	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/weedy-mustards-of-oklahoma.html
PSS-2793;	Horseweed Management in Oklahoma Winter Wheat	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/horseweed-management-in-oklahoma-winter-wheat.html
PSS-2188	Harvest Aid Weed Management in Wheat	https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/harvest-aid-weed-management-in-wheat.html

Developed by the Oklahoma State University Extension Team

Amanda de Oliveira Silva
Small Grains Extension Specialist

Brian Arnall
Precision Nutrient Management Specialist

Hailin Zhang
Nutrient Management Specialist

Tom Royer
Extension Entomologist

Bob Hunger
Extension Wheat Pathologist

Misha Manuchehri
Small Grains Extension Weed Specialist

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Topics:Crops Grains & Oilseeds Insects, Pests, and Diseases Weed Control Weeds & Invasive Plants Wheat

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