WINTER WHEAT

Winter wheat is a versatile species that can be used for grain, straw, and as a cover crop to break weed and pest cycles. A 12-year University of Illinois study found that winter wheat added as a third rotational crop to a corn-soybean rotation boosted corn yields by 10 bushels/acre and soybeans by 5 bushels/acre. Winter wheat provides an excellent window for seeding cover crops after grain harvest.

Best Use

Adaptations

Grain, Cover Crop, Forage Most soil types; avoid very poorly drained soils

Requirements

• Winter wheat needs sufficient available N (and other nutrients) to support the yield target. Many conventional producers split-apply N for a total of 1.5-2.5 units per bu. of yield target.

Planting Date

Sept. 10 – Oct. 10 in southern MN (date range will change as you move north or south)

• Avoid planting winter wheat on corn ground or wheat stubble because it increases the risk of fusarium head blight (scab).

• If wheat must follow corn or corn silage, remove or bury the corn residue to reduce risk of fusarium infection.

• Planting past optimum seeding date increases the risk of winterkill and reduces yield.

• Seeding too early can result in excessive fall growth, making plants more vulnerable to winterkill and acts as a green bridge for pests.

• Watch herbicide rotation restrictions.

Seeding

100-140 lbs/acre drilled 1" to 2" deep Optimum final stand is 900,000-1,000,000 plants/acre

SD Midland, Viking 211, and Winner data from 2022 UMN variety trials. Expedition data from 2022 SDSU variety trials.

LC3334 and Erisman data from UW and MSU 2021 variety trials.

Viking 801 and Viking 822 agronomic ratings from genetic originator.

Viking 801 yield data from 2022 UW variety trials.

Winter Hardiness/Test Weight/Protein 1=highest, 9=lowest;

Maturity 1=early, 9=late;

Rust/Scab 1=most resistant, 9=least resistant;

Lodging 1=least prone, 9=most prone; ID Insufficient Data

Precision Seeding Rates

UTILIZING SEED COUNT VS. LBS

While traditional agronomic advice relied on lbs or bu / acre for seeding rate, it is much more accurate to calculate seeding rate by seed count, germination and purity.

Use the following formula to arrive at your target seeding rate: Seeding rate in pounds per acre = [desired stand / (1 - expected stand loss)] / [seeds per pound x percent germination]

The optimum stand of winter wheat is 900,000 to 1,000,000 plants per acre or 21 to 23 plants per square foot. The optimum stand is less than hard red spring wheat (HRSW) because the crop will have more opportunity to tiller in both the fall and early spring. Increase the desired stand to 23-25 plants per square feet when planting is delayed or if seedbed conditions are unfavorable for rapid emergence.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/umnwheatseed