The Smith County Extension and Post Rock Extension District have joined together for the 2012 Wheat Plot Tour that is scheduled for Tuesday May 22.  Each year the wheat crop faces challenges from weather, insects and disease, so this program is designed to help producers with these areas of concern.

 

The tour starts at 8:30 a.m. with the plot located 3 miles east of highway 36 and highway 281 junction on the south side. Refreshments will be served at the plot.  Along with the 17 varieties in the plot, a micro-nutrient study is also included.  Dr. Jim Shroyer and Dr. Dorivar Ruiz Diaz will be at the plot to answer your questions.  Please look at the complete flyer under "links" to the right for a complete schedule for the day.

 

Below is the other schedule:

8:30 a.m. Smith County Plot - Sue and Kelly Roush

9:00 a.m. Osborne County Plot - Bruce Guttery

10:30 a.m. Jewell County Plot - Calvin Bohnert

1:00 p.m.   Lincoln County Plot - Ron Buttenhoff

4:00 p.m.   Mitchell county Plot - Marty Fletchell

5:00 p.m.   Presentations by KSU Extension Specialists on the following topics:

                 -Variety Selection

                 -2012 Wheat Disease report

                 -Micro-nutrients and Wheat

                 -Wheat Research at the NC Experiment Field

 

(The attached flyer has the exact locations of the plots)

 

 

 

 

Wheat Spring Freeze Information

 

During the spring, the weather can bring low temperatures when the wheat is at vulnerable stages.  Spring freeze injury occurs when low temperatures coincide with sensitive plant growth stages. 

The degree of injury to wheat from spring freezes is influenced by the duration of the low temperatures as well as the low temperature reached.  Prolonged exposure to freezing causes much more injury than brief exposure to the same temperature.

Most of our wheat in Smith County is at boot or heading so at both of these stages damage can occur at specific temperatures. 

For the boot stage, injury can occur at 28 degrees F. if that temperature is sustained for at least 2 hours.  Primary symptoms are floret sterility, the head or spike is trapped in the boot, damage to the lower stem, leaf discoloration along with odor of the plant.  It can sustain moderate to severe damage.

For the heading stage, injury can occur at 30 degrees F. if that temperature is sustained for at least 2 hours.  The primary symptoms are floret sterility, white awns or white heads, damage to the lower stem along with leaf discoloration.  Damage can be severe.

For more information give me a call (785-282-6823) or email (swick@ksu.edu) or refer to the K-State Research and Extension publication, “Spring Freeze Injury to Kansas Wheat,” C-646.   Refer to the link to the right.