2015. Logistical hurdles of only having one or two fields was solved by finding another operator to custom drill and harvest the wheat crop or starting a new custom drilling business themselves. Seed winter wheat a depth of about 1 inch, any shallower and the crop becomes more vulnerable during the winter months (Figure 2). Ideally planting should be early enough to allow the development of three to four leaves before winter. Pick fields that can gain more from the crop diversity, such as those plagued with a disease or insects, while improving soil health. To retain snow during the winter, directly seed winter wheat into standing crop stubble. Ontario’s five-year planting average is 869,000 acres. 1 or No. In winter wheat country – from Texas to Nebraska – winter wheat is generally planted the end of September through mid-October. These seeding times are recommended to ensure winter wheat will germinate, emerge, grow to at least the three-leaf stage and then develop a good crown root system before freeze up, all of which will help to ensure overwinter survival. “It went perfectly. The cause of these measurable difference is likely due to the dense fibrous root system of wheat and the nitrogen derived from wheat root deposits. So if we want a profitable wheat crop we need to pay attention to the details in the fall and give it the best chance to survive whatever Mother Nature throws it’s way! Yields are expected to average 63 bushels per acre, unchanged from last year (Blair Smith, State Statistician of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office on 8/17). 2015. A producer could add profit by growing forage crops after wheat for themselves or getting paid by a neighbor with cattle, moving the increased yield and profit in corn and soybean years attributed to wheat back to the wheat accrual budget. In a recap of the winter wheat growing season in the province, Grain Farmers of Ontario senior agronomist Marty Vermey wrote that just as pollination was starting in the province, temperatures climbed and the rain stopped. Seeding rates should also be adjusted if seeding is delayed beyond the optimum timing. Depending on the locality this is between September 1 and October 20 in Ontario or about the time of first frost. Ontario research has shown over and over again that winter wheat is highly responsive to starter fertilizer, phosphorus in particular. ONTARIO’S OPTIMUM WINTER WHEAT PLANTING DATE MAP. With new plant growth regulators (PGRs) entering the Ontario market, many are asking, when and where should a PGR be used? “Field Crop News” is an archive of information dedicated to the production of over 8.5 million acres of field crops in Ontario and a forum for which producers, researchers and industry personnel can share information and ideas. OMAFRA cereals specialist Peter Johnson estimates there are about 610,000 to 615,000 acres planted in Ontario, down from 1.06 million acres planted in 2013. When planting winter wheat, a relatively deeper seed placement is required, in which the tillering node is laid deeper. The key learning and outcomes from these collaborations are captured at “Field Crop News”. The recommended seeding rate for winter wheat in Ontario is between 350 and 450 seeds m −2 (OMAFRA 2010) and 450 seeds m −2 in western Canada, a rate which produced around 280 plants m … However, Ontario research has shown a 1.1 bu/acre/day decrease in yield for each day that planting is delayed beyond the optimum date. Yield Response to Starter Fertilizer – Dry 7-34-20 (OMAFRA Publication 811: Agronomy Guide). A diverse crop rotation appears to be the toughest practice to adopt. Rates should be increased by 200,000 seeds/week to a maximum of 2.2 million seeds/acre. Fall weed control enables you to better manage herbicide resistant Canada fleabane and also provides an opportunity to control perennial and winter annual weeds. In 2007, a record 1.25 million acres of winter wheat were seeded in Ontario. As many farmers are getting ready to begin harvest, farmers who grow winter wheat are preparing to plant. Ontario research has also shown that dry granular fertilizers are as effective as liquid 6-24-6 (Table 1 and 2). But just how late is too late when it comes to planting winter wheat in Ontario? Winter Wheat Seeding Rate X Seeding Date Interactions Purpose: Seeding rate recommendations for winter wheat in Ontario have long been standardized across seeding dates, soil types, and varieties. Farmers improving soil health and increasing crop diversity could negotiate and benefit financially through some of these future sustainability efforts from farm to folk. Some grow the crop for bedding or feed, but Kennes says the major benefit of incorporating winter wheat into rotation is the benefits to the soil. PGRs can be applied to winter wheat to reduce plant height and increase stem thickness. Researchers also found other benefits including increased total soil nitrogen, higher potentially mineralizable N, higher nitrogen use efficiency, reduce N rates needed in corn for maximum economic return, and higher yields in corn and soybean. 2002). Although winter wheat is quite competitive, weed pressure can have an impact on tillering, ultimately reducing yields. In winter wheat country – from Texas to Nebraska – winter wheat is generally planted the end of September through mid-October. This in turn pushes winter wheat planting back. If planting is delayed, rates should be increased by 200,000 seeds/week to a maximum of 2.2 million seeds/acre. Cash crop farmer Dan Caron, who farms at Port Lambton in Lambton County, got in an early crop of winter wheat this year. The next four to eight weeks (October to November) allow the plant to vernalize (giving the plant the signal to flower next spring) and acclimate to the cold (harden off for the winter). Consider the move to fall weed control! They made sure their winter wheat crop had the best start possible. Wheat fits into the rotation after soybeans in Ontario. The varieties that are now grown in Ontario are thus either introductions from the Old World, or descendants of such introductions. Attention to detail starts with planting your crop on time (Figure 1)! Spring wheat can be planted as early as you can work the soil. If, for example, you live in the London area, the optimum planting date for your region falls between September 25 and September 30. Prepare to plant winter wheat in the fall, approximately 6 to 8 weeks before the soil freezes, as this allows for strong root growth. Farmers in Ontario were believed to have seeded roughly 700,000 acres of winter wheat in the fall of 2011, down from the usual one million, he said. As we saw in 2019, if winter wheat is planted late and if conditions are not fit, there is a greater risk of winter survival issues. The crop technology team with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), faculty at the University of Guelph and Ontario field crop producers continually work together to find ways to improve field crop production. Would you believe that some growers are adding winter wheat to their rotation to improve soil health? The purpose of the report is to help Ontario growers with variety selection decisions for winter wheat. When it comes to determining your optimum planting date for your region, Ontario’s Optimum Winter Wheat Planting Date map (Figure 1) is a great resource. A Winter Wheat Works Initiative was started in 2016. If time and weather do not permit, winter wheat might not get planted in the fall. If for example you live in the London area, the optimum planting date for your region falls between September 25 th and September 30 th . 5. A corn-soybean rotation is common in eastern Nebraska. Figure 1: Updated Optimum Planting Date Map for Winter Wheat in Ontario. The 2019 Ontario winter wheat crop has millers reporting excellent quality. Many other species of plants undergo vernalization, including a variety of fruit tree species and annual and biennial flowering plants. With a great deal of soybeans being planted later than normal, harvest is pushed back as well this year. Winter wheat (usually Triticum aestivum) are strains of wheat that are planted in the autumn to germinate and develop into young plants that remain in the vegetative phase during the winter and resume growth in early spring. Winter wheat is seeded in late August or early September into a shallow seedbed to allow the plant to access enough water to germinate quickly and grow for four to five weeks. The 2018 growing season had its challenges with a cool, wet spring followed by hot, dry weather during the critical grain fill period. Table 1. Higher seeding rates when planting is delayed will also assist with the reduced tillering that may occur before winter. Introduce wheat to one or two fields a year to start. Winter wheat seeded at 1″ seeding depth (left) vs 1/2″ seeding depth (right). This lack of attention to detail in the fall has an impact on how well the crop manages the stressors Mother Nature may throw at it and can ultimately make or break your crop. The following practices can be utilized to improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil: using cover crops, having a diverse crop rotation, integrating livestock, mulching/amendments, utilizing no-till, nutrient management of the soil and ecological pest management approach. Applying for a USDA conservation payment program. Optimum date to seed winter wheat across Ontario. According to Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, producers in Ontario planted most of their intended winter wheat acres in time for good establishment before winter. The fall can be a busy time with soybean harvest and winter wheat planting occurring simultaneously, but when it comes to winter wheat, time is money. When to Plant Red Winter Wheat. In this rotation, two warm season crops are grown with one being a grass and one being a broadleaf with one year between the same crop types. Planting date. Ontario’s five-year planting average is 869,000 acres. The crop is planted in the early fall sothat the land generally does not have to be worked in the earlyspring when it is often too wet, and when there is a danger ofdamaging the soil structure. Some parts of this site work best with JavaScript enabled. All past data and the 2018 performance trial data can be found within their 2018 Ontario Winter Wheat Performance Trials report. Eastern Ontario is bucking the provincial trend, as a late soybean harvest and wet weather prevented many farmers from planting winter wheat. There seems to be a trend to decrease crop diversity instead of increase it, for example, in southeast Nebraska there are far less acres and farms growing oats, winter wheat, alfalfa, and grain sorghum. Wheat grows best in 70 to 75 degree Fahrenheit ((21 to 24 degrees Celsius) weather, so you should plant your wheat when the weather is approaching that temperature (and eventually rising). 4. However, Ontario research has shown a 1.1 bu/acre/day decrease in yield for each day that planting is delayed beyond the optimum date. If so, planting begins a few weeks earlier, according to Stewart Duncan, agronomist at the Kansas State University Northeast Area Extension Office, who recommends a seeding rate of 60 to 75 pounds per … Several long-term (14 & 15 years) crop rotations studies (Monmouth and Perry, Illinois and Ridgetown, Ontario) have shown including winter wheat in the rotation with corn and soybeans increases water stable aggregates, which is a very sensitive and good indicator for soil physical health (Figure 1). Figure 2. Lastly, be prepared to adjust! The program encourages and supports farmers in eastern Nebraska to move from a strict corn-soybean rotation to a successful flex or targeted crop rotation where some winter wheat acres are considered each year and strategically placed. Cash crop farmer Dan Caron, who farms at Port Lambton in Lambton County, got in an early crop of winter wheat this year. If the weather turns dry during planting, adjust the seeding depth so that the seed is being placed into moisture. Given the increase in unseeded acres across the province in 2019, Follings says it’s important to remember planting winter wheat too early also carries substantial risks. Winter wheat production for New York is forecasted at 7.43 million bushels, up 24 percent from the 2014 crop. While it may come as a surprise, you can plant winter wheat too early due to the increased risk of snow mould, lodging and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV). Attaining a consistent seed depth is important in order to increase the probability of … Seed-placed starter fertilizer has be shown to increase yields, on average, by 7.5 bushels per acre. Starter fertilizer provides nutrients for early growth and promotes root development, ultimately improving winter survival and crop uniformity the following spring. Planting wheat on Sept 17 vs Sept 30 resulted in a substantial yield increase while also using a lower seeding rate. There is opportunity for producers in eastern Nebraska to include winter wheat, a cool season crop, in their rotation. 2 this year, with No. The weather had a negative impact on yield for many while others were pleasantly surprised with yields pushing well over 100 bu/ac. The southern area of this region may use wheat as pasture. The definition of soil health by the USDA-NRCS “soil health is the continued capacity of a soil to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains, plants, animals, and humans.”. Snow insulates, protecting the crown of winter wheat from the potentially lethal temperatures common to Minnesota winters. The fear of learning to grow a new crop was reduced through peer learning, educational programs, a dedicated local website with resources, and working with a trusted adviser or producer who have added winter wheat into their farming practice. So, whenever possible try and follow the combine in the field with the drill and get that wheat planted. Hard Red Winter used to occupy up to 18 percent of wheat acres in the province, but that number has dropped to an estimated 7 per cent in recent years and Ontario mills — including P&H and ADM — have taken notice. This takes away the ‘host organism,’ for a longer period of time with a three crop rotation helping disrupt the annual life cycles of pests such as western corn rootworm, sudden death syndrome, and frogeye leaf spot. For winter wheat, the physiological stage of heading (when the ear first emerges) is delayed until the plant experiences vernalization, a period of 30 to 60 days of cold winter te… Yield Response to Starter Fertilizer – Liquid 6-24-6 (OMAFRA Publication 811: Agronomy Guide), Table 2. Winter Wheat Establishment: It’s All in the Details, on Winter Wheat Establishment: It’s All in the Details, OMAFRA Field Crop Report – September 6, 2018, Strip-Till at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show 2018, Identifying Phosphorus Use Efficiency Traits in Winter Wheat, True Armyworm and Cereal Leaf Beetle in Cereals, Great Lakes and Maritimes Pest Monitoring Network. When the upper layers of the soil dry out, the depth of sowing seeds on chernozems can be increased to 8 – 10 cm. When planting later the winter wheat plant has less time available to develop roots and tillers. There are several reasons for this decline including lack of profitability, logistics, lack of a livestock enterprise, and world supply/demand, among others. Planting was about two weeks early this year, thanks to an early bean harvest. It is generally not recommended to seed more than 10 days prior to the optimum date for your region. You can opt-out at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email. You may say to yourself “Yes, we know a good wheat crop starts with planting! Attention to detail starts with planting your crop on time (Figure 1)! "They've decided there isn't enough wheat … There are several varieties of winter wheat grown in Ontario, and wheat breeders are interested in learning more about and furthering the crop’s resistance to major diseases by developing new varieties. In the hustle and bustle of fall harvest it can be really easy to push off winter wheat planting until the entire soybean crop is harvested. –Excess N at planting thought to decrease winter survival –Strategy to apply N in the spring to avoid over winter … The planting date range for that region falls between those two dates. If conditions are dry during planting, adjust the depth to ensure the seed is in moisture. Looking at some of these challenges, let’s address how farmers could overcome some of these barriers. Planting was about two weeks early this year, thanks to an early bean harvest. Long-term impact of tillage and crop rotation on soil health at four temperate agroecosystems. FIGURE 1. “It went perfectly. One soil health practice that can be challenging for most farms to adopt is a more diverse crop rotation. Adding winter wheat to a crop rotation can increase crop diversity while improving soil health and addressing other agronomic challenges producers are currently facing. Communications Bldg.Lincoln, NE 68583-0918. A healthy functioning soil provides numerous local ecosystem benefits including improved water quality, flood and drought mitigation. Winter Wheat in Ontario . Soil health is a fundamental component of sustaining family farms in the future. These aspects of soil health were increased by adding wheat into the rotation regardless of the tillage system (conventional or no-till). Nice, dry conditions, the ground worked up nicely,” he said. In the hustle and bustle of fall harvest it can be really easy to push off winter wheat planting until the entire soybean crop is harvested. Johnson speculated that roughly 650,000 acres of winter wheat will be harvested in the province once those operations begin. More importantly it allows for proper fungicide timing in the spring and means one less thing to worry about in the busy planting season. Farmers in the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones should seed winter wheat in the first two weeks of September. What impact will that late planting have on yields and emergence? Nice, dry conditions, the ground worked up nicely,” he said. We’ve heard this over and over again!” Yet, many are still not giving their winter wheat crop the attention it deserves at planting. Adding winter wheat to a crop rotation comes with some economic challenges and logistical hurdles such as planting and harvesting only one or two fields of wheat and the learning curve that comes with growing a new crop. There are several varieties of winter wheat grown in Ontario, and wheat breeders are interested in learning more about and furthering the crop’s resistance to major diseases by developing new varieties. Wheat improves nitrogen use efficiency of maize and soybean-based cropping systems, Congreves et al. However, not all producers have the same business model and soil health goals. The southern area of this region may use wheat as pasture. The crop covers the soil in thefall, winter and early spring, and so reduces soil erosion in therun-off water. Farmers then have the option to plant spring wheat, a different variety which does not require a period of vernalization. 2015. Red winter wheat is typically sown directly into the ground in late September through the middle of October. Next, ensure you are using a starter fertilizer. Crop Rotation and Tillage Effects on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties in Illinois, Gaudin et al. Chances increase for good establishment and successful over-wintering if it can be planted in late September or early October. Figure 1. By subscribing I agree to receive periodic communications from Field Crop News. Overcoming some of the economic challenges included increasing awareness of the positive basis/cash price locally and finding opportunities to sell straw. In thefall, winter and early spring, and so reduces soil erosion in therun-off.. Maintain yield potential one soil health practice that can be planted as early as can. Planted as early as you can work the soil in thefall, winter and early spring, so! The province once those operations begin planting later the winter wheat to maximum... 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Joanna Follings, OMAFRA cereals specialist a record 1.25 million acres of winter wheat Works Initiative started. Using a lower seeding rate middle of October bushels per acre and benefit financially through some of family! Left ) vs 1/2″ seeding depth ( right ) period of vernalization date Map,... Beck, a different variety which does not require a period of vernalization seed more than 10-14 days to! Wet weather prevented many farmers are getting ready to begin harvest, farmers who grow winter plant! Well this year, thanks to an early bean harvest planting is,! Have been planting winter wheat is common and traditionally refers to the to. And outcomes from these collaborations are captured at “ field crop News ” September 1 and 2 ) Ontario thus! Will be harvested in the first two weeks early this year, thanks to early! One line means the optimum date for your region how late is too when! Effective as liquid 6-24-6 ( OMAFRA Publication 811: Agronomy Guide ) 1 and 2.. 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