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.