Agricultural News
Already Thinking About Fall Planting? Westbred Varieties Can Help Get the Most Bang for Your Buck
Wed, 17 May 2017 12:37:11 CDT
John Fenderson is a commercial manager with Monsanto brand Westbred, covering the Enid, Oklahoma area. He took time during the Oklahoma State University Wheat Tour in Kildare, Oklahoma this week to speak with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about how some of the varieties have performed this year and what Westbred has to offer wheat farmers as they begin considering what to sow this fall. You can hear their complete conversation, by clicking the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of this story.
"We've had a good year and Northcentral Oklahoma I think as a whole - the wheat is fantastic. I don't know that I've seen it look a whole lot better than it is this year," Fenderson said, despite some concerns he has about the weather's impact on the crop and some issues with disease. "Hopefully, we got in there, got it sprayed appropriately and I think we're going to see some really good yields coming out this year."
And while many farmers haven't even got their wheat out yet, they are still already thinking about what they will be putting back in, come fall. Fenderson says with market prices as low as they are currently, he can understand how wheat may not be the most attractive to farmers right now. However, he suggests a few options that he thinks will help farmers get the most for their money, and round out their investment, with dual-purpose varieties that can be used to graze cattle in addition to harvesting grain.
"We understand the economics that farmers are facing today," he said. "And cattle are attractive right now. We've had a nice rebound in price so products like WB-4458 in particular is an older variety that we have. It's a very, very good dual-purpose with high yield potential to it as well."
Fenderson also recommends WB-4515, for big farmers that like to get a head start when it comes to planting in the fall. This variety's delayed break from dormancy allows the plant to mature later and avoid late freezes. While this variety won't perform as well as a dual-purpose crop, it will produce a high-quality product with above average test weight and good milling qualities.
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