Maximizing wheat yields

“If we learned one thing from last year it should be make sure you do not skimp on the wheat crop,” said Kent Nichols, MKC Agronomy Field Sales Manager.

Some producers in the MKC trade area believed the revenue generated from crop insurance would be guaranteed due to the high cost of the premium. This way of thinking justified, to them, cutting back on seed treatments, crop nutrients and crop protection products.  

One producer said, “We cut back at planting and could never recover”. 

As producers question their decision to apply seed treatment, crop nutrients and crop protection products, Nichols would encourage them to speak to their Field Marketer about the choice first – seed treatment.  

“With higher prices right now, producers cannot afford to not put on the treatments we are offering,” Nichols said. “For them it takes fewer bushels to pay for a treatment than it has in the past.  If you start off behind with your wheat crop, you will end up behind.”      

The reasons to buy certified seed wheat are many, but bushel yield is one major factor. Kansas State University research shows a 1.2 to 2.5 bushel yield increase over bin run wheat. This is one topic not often discussed with producers.  “It is true the closer to certification you are, the smaller the yield gap will be,” said Nichols.

Eliminating wait time for a seed cleaning appointment is one advantage to buying certified wheat. Producers have increased planting capacity, leading to a higher demand for cleaning in a smaller period of time. However, seed cleaning capacity has not increased. Nichols suggests buying certified wheat for growers who need clean wheat with a treatment already applied.

In a 2010 issue of the High Plains Journal, a story about seed treatments sited a 10.7% increase in yield over non-treated wheat.  Wheat treatment is one more step to ensuring a good stand and healthy plants. The investment for a fungicide is less than $3.00 an acre.  “I have been in fields with loose smut and this could all be avoided if a seed treatment was used,” Nichols said. 

This year MKC is utilizing Warden Cereals, which uses both Metalaxyl and Ipconazole.  Warden Cereals will protect the wheat from several diseases that can be present in the wheat crop including damping off, loose smut, common bunt, and Rhizoctonia root rot just to name a few. 

Following the aphid pressure of last year’s growing season, questions have been raised over whether or not another outbreak could occur in the fall and which crop protection products to use to control an outbreak.

Nitro Shield is the product suggested by MKC to control the Bird Oat Cherry Aphid.  It is for the fall infestation and will protect the wheat for the first 30 days.  MKC suggests 1.3 oz. /cwt.  The investment for Nitro Shield is $6.34 when 100 pounds per acre are used. 

According to Nichols, many producers used Nitro Shield last year because of aphid pressure. This year the spring infestation of barley yellow dwarf cost some producers as much as 20 bushels.  The fall infestation will generally be in smaller pockets of the field but it can still have a huge impact on yield.

Ascend helps with plant emergence and root development and was frequently used on seed wheat last year. Producers who used it saw bigger, healthier wheat plants in the fall.   In test plots, there have been anywhere from a three to six bushel response. 

Ascend is for the progressive producer who is pushing for higher yields. However, if Ascend is applied to wheat and the crop of nutrients are lacking, a yield benefit will not be seen.  It has been said that Ascend is like a light switch, if the switch is turned on, but there is no electricity you won’t see a response.  The fertility is like the electricity, it must be present for the Ascend to work properly.

Producers may ask if Ascend will hurt their yield in a dry year.  While it does not hurt in a dry year, the response in yield may not be seen.

“These are all products MKC offers to the producer to help them see a return on investment,” said Nichols. “Seed treatments are really used to ensure you get a good stand and protect parts of the field which are vulnerable to either insects or diseases. Over a larger area and over time they do pay for themselves and give the producer a great return on investment.”