Agricultural News
Edwards Discusses Wheat Variety Selection in New Video
Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:24:34 CDT
With wheat planting just days to weeks away in some parts of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University Small Grains Extension Specialist Dr. Jeff Edwards has posted a video discussing variety selection. (The video is available at the bottom of this story.)
Edward says selecting the right variety is important because it sets the yield potential for the crop and then determines the management practices necessary for maximum yields.
"If you don't start with a good variety, it kind of minimalizes or marginalizes many of the other management actions you'll take throughout the season."
Edwards says variety selection should be made on a farm by farm and field by field basis. He recommends two Extension publications to help producers compare varieties which may be suitable for their needs, CR 2143 Small Grains Variety Performance Tests and PSS-2142 Wheat Variety Comparison Chart. Both are available by clicking here.
Edwards recommends producers lower their risk by diversifying their variety selections much like diversifying one's stock portfolio. He advises choosing varieties from different maturity groups and planting late maturing varieties first. He says that offers maximum protection against late spring frosts.
An extremely important factor to consider, Edwards says, is whether the producer is open to spraying a foliar fungicide if necessary in the spring. While he doesn't have to commit to doing so in the fall, the producer who can build yield potential throughout the growing season may need to preserve those gains by spraying in the spring. Knowing whether one will or will not spray can help guide variety selection decisions.
Other factors to be considered are forage production for grazing, first hollow stem, high temperature germination sensitivity and Hession fly resistance.
Click in the video window below to see the entire presentation from Dr. Edwards.
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