Regional Update - Winter 2012
Winter wheat conditions across the region are for the most part relatively good. Precipitation in many areas in the latter part of 2011 has benefited the crop. The latest Kansas crop report rates 91% of the wheat crop in the fair to excellent range, for Oklahoma it is 93%, for Nebraska 99%, and for Texas 62%. So, on a regional level very little of the wheat crop at the time of this writing is rated in the poor to very poor range. However, drought continues to be an issue in some areas—specifically Texas, western Oklahoma, eastern New Mexico, and southwestern Kansas. The latest Drought Monitor (Jan. 3, 2012, shown below) indicates that most of Texas is in “extreme” to “exceptional” drought. Without sufficient rainfall in the coming few months, the dire dry conditions of 2011 may be repeated in the affected areas.
With the relatively good overall wheat condition it is a good time to remember that the crop needs adequate available N as it goes into the spring. In general, wheat takes up about 2.0 to 2.5 pounds N per bushel produced, or if grazed, about one pound for each 3 pounds of stocker gain. Adequate N must be available to the crop at all phases of development. Shortages may ultimately result in reduced tillering, reduction in head size, poor grain fill, reduced yields, and low protein content. Splitting N applications has the potential to improve use efficiency and reduce N loss in some environments. It is critical that topdress applications be made early, prior to jointing, to maximize production efficiency. “Topdress by jointing” is the standard recommendation, but it is probably more accurate to say that in-season applied N should be available for uptake (i.e., moved into the root zone) by jointing. Source should be managed according to equipment, availability, price and other practical factors. Gaseous loss of N from surface applied urea containing fertilizer is not of great concern in wheat topdressing since temperatures are usually below the threshold of concern (50 to 55oF). An added benefit of providing adequate N for this year’s wheat crop was covered in a recent IPNI newsletter, where the potential for market protein premiums was discussed. To access this newsletter > click here <.
