Updated Wheat Fungicide Table

With wheat growth and development ahead of normal in 2012, it is important to pay attention to the growth stage when determining if there is a need for the use of foliar fungicides. Active scouting is important to determine which diseases are present and either the incidence and/or severity of each disease relative to wheat growth stage. To help in understanding the efficacy of different fungicide active ingredients, the NCERA-184 (Management of Small Grain Diseases) committee reviews and updates the Fungicide Efficacy Table for Control of Wheat Diseases each year. Ratings for different active ingredients are provided and range from poor to excellent for the following wheat diseases: powdery mildew, Septoria leaf blotch, Stagonospora leaf/glume blotch, tan spot, stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust, and head scab. These ratings are based on results and observations from trials conducted across different locations (i.e., states) and years and is meant only as a guide. It is important to read and follow the label carefully regarding application timing and recommended rates against different diseases.

Access a Wealth of Crop Management Info Courtesy of the Soybean Checkoff

NOTE: THIS OFFER IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!

As part of its tech transfer efforts, the United Soybean Board purchased 500 one-year subscriptions to the Plant Management Network (PMN) for soybean growers and the consultants who work for them. These subscriptions are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and they are intended for individuals who did not subscribe during USB's 500-subscription promotion last fall.

This subscription includes access to PMN's entire collection of “Focus on Soybeans” webcasts. More than 50 soybean webcasts have been produced to date, and they feature actionable crop management information from experts who work in the field. PMN subscriptions also include access to nearly 8,000 fungicide, nematicide, insecticide, and biological control trials; more than 1,000 applied crop management research articles; nearly 3,000 crop management news articles; about 5,000 images; tens of thousands of extension documents, and other information useful for growers and consultants. All this information is located through in one central website and searchable by keyword.

You can sign up for a free one-year subscription to all the Plant Management Network's content through the signup form at the following short link: http://bit.ly/GFDCzj.

Just enter the required contact information, scroll down toward the bottom of the page, enter your preferred username and password, and click “submit”. Make sure to record your username and password on paper for safekeeping.

Once you subscribe, you'll get article alerts once a month in the form of PMN's Update newsletter. Click through to whatever content you like. If it's subscriber-only content, you'll be prompted to fill in your username and password.

Here's a listing of PMN's soybean-inclusive resources, all of which can be accessed through Focus on Soybean http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/subscriptions/details/soybean.asp

There are only 500 subscriptions, and they went quick the last time this was done. So please fill out the signup form as soon as possible!

Interseeding Red Clover with No Frost and Advancing Wheat Growth Stage

The unusually warm weather of the past few weeks prevented traditional conditions for frost seeding from developing and also accelerated winter wheat development. Successful interseeding is still possible if the soil surface is dry and cracked, but the wheat grow stage should be should be checked to determine the potential for creating wheel tracks. Most wheat in extreme Southeast Wisconsin is at the Zadoks 30 or “Pseudostem erection” stage, meaning the growing point is above the soil surface and a small hollow cavity has formed at the base of the stem. From this point on, wheel traffic has the potential to break the stem, creating permanent tracks and reduced yield. If this is the case, plans for broadcasting seed alone with an ATV mounted seeder should be abandoned in favor of applying seed with N fertilizer using commercial scale air-flow equipment to minimize the number of wheel tracks and associated yield loss. Please visit “Verify Wheat Growth Stage Before Applying Growth Regulator Herbicides” which contains an image of wheat at the Zadoks 30 stage.

For more information please see Frost Seeding Red Clover in Winter Wheat

Verify Wheat Growth Stage Before Applying Growth Regulator Herbicides

Unconfirmed reports of wheat that is approaching jointing near the WI/IL border prompted an unexpected field trip to the Arlington Research Station today to confirm crop growth stage. Our inspection of the wheat crop found that the wheat head is right at the soil surface and nearly at the Pseudostem erection crop growth stage (Zadoks 30; Feekes 4-5; Image 1). As a point of reference we normally do not reach this crop growth stage until May 1st. As we move forward over the next few weeks it is imperative that retailers and growers properly identify the wheat crop growth stage before applying dicamba or 2,4-D. When wheat has a visible joint (Feekes 6), wheat can be very sensitive to dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides. If we remember back to 2009 we had several reports of 80 bushel wheat dropping to 20 bushel wheat when dicamba was applied at Feekes 6. After jointing there are several other herbicides that can be safely used. Please refer to Pest Management in WI Field Crops Bulletin A3646 for these options.

Please click to view a YouTube video on Identifying the Hollow Stem and Jointing Growth Stages in Wheat

Image 1. Feekes 4-5 or Zadoks 30 growth stage in wheat

Be Cautious With Your Wheat Nitrogen Timing this Spring

With record high temperatures predicted this week if your winter wheat crop had not broken dormancy it soon will. I would like to caution growers and retailers to not get too anxious to apply N yet this spring. It is important to remember that the functional purpose of spring N is to 1. stimulate tillering and 2. provide crop nutrition. If ample tillering (> 70 tillers per square foot) has occurred growers can delay N applications up to pre-joint (Feekes 4-5; Zadoks 30). This practice will aid in minimizing early spring N loss. Applications of N made after this growth stage may lead to wheel track damage. If growers have < 70 tillers per square foot it is important to get across those fields as soon as possible to minimize yield loss due to low tiller/head counts. My concern related to an early application of N to a well tillered wheat crop is that we will stimulate crop growth and development which may increase the risk of yield damage if we get a sudden cold snap. I do not have a crystal ball but I would bet we have another heavy frost in our future. For more information related to freeze damage to winter wheat and to assess your risk for yield loss please read Know Your Wheat Growth Stage to Predict Wheat Freeze Injury.

For more information on assessing winter wheat stands please view Wheat Stand Assessment and Nitrogen Timing

Is My Winter Wheat at Risk?

Warm weather coupled with lack of snow cover have prompted many questions regarding the relative winterhardiness of Wisconsin's winter wheat crop. Though daytime temperatures have risen into the 40's continued night time temperatures below freezing have prompted wheat plants to maintain a winterhardy state. Relatively speaking the WI winter wheat crop is at more risk to winterkill if we get a sudden and prolonged severe cold snap than in "normal" years however following my inspection of the Chilton variety trial site on 2/17/12 (Image above) my overall concern is very low.

Joe Zenz Tops the 2011 Wisconsin Soybean Yield Contest

Joe Zenz from Lancaster topped the 2011 Non-Irrigated WI Soybean Yield contest at 92.8 bu a^-1 planting Asgrow 2403. Jason Weigel from S+W Farms LLC, Platteville placed second at 89.7 bu a^-1 with Dairyland DSR-2770/RR and last year’s winner Rick Devoe from RnK Devoe Farms, Monroe placed third at 87.4 bu per a^-1 with Pioneer 92Y51. In the irrigated division Nicholas Viney from Badgerland Grain Farms LLC, Edgerton took first place at 74.1 bu per a^-1 with Asgrow AG2330. Andy Bensend from AB Farms, Dallas placed second at 42.8 bu per a^-1 planting Pioneer 91M10.