Spring Wheat Production Tips

Newer varieties produce high yields and high protein without the use of intensive management practices. Only minor changes in management practices are required from traditional spring barley production.

Area's of Adaptation

In general, spring wheat is best adapted to those areas of Ontario with 2750 or fewer heat units. Production in higher heat unit areas tends to produce more variable results due to heat stress. Special management practices should be followed in areas of 2800 or more heat units.

Variety Selection

Varieties with a wide range of agronomic performance and quality traits are now available to Ontario growers. Before deciding on which varieties to grow, consider factors such as projected price per tonne, grain and straw yield, lodging resistance, ease of threshing and canopy for underseeding. In most years, yields vary by as much as 35% between varieties and prices can vary by almost as much. ?Blending Type wheats such as Quantum tend to yield higher but return less per tonne while ?Self Baking Type? wheats such as AC Taho return more per tonne but yield less. Consult variety specification sheets to evaluate trade-offs between varieties.

Rotation

Wheat should not follow corn in rotation due to the possibility of severe outbreaks of fusarium head blight or "tombstone". Ideally, spring wheat should follow soybeans, canola, alfalfa or some other broadleaf crop.

Seeding

Seed spring wheat at 400 seeds per square meter (1.6 million seeds acre). Spring wheat will not tiller as aggressively as barley, so seeding rates need to be higher. Seeding rates should range from 120 to 150 lbs/acre depending on seed size. Even when underseeding there is no need to reduce seeding rates due to the more open canopy of the spring wheat crop. Plant spring wheat as soon as possible in the spring. Spring wheat tolerates cold and wet conditions following planting better than barley and also performs more consistently under no-till. Some even no-till spring wheat into frozen ground (frost seeding) in order to get a head start. No-till planted spring wheat will often show slower emergence than conventionally-planted crops, but this will be offset by more timely planting.

Fertility

Nitrogen rates range from 70 to 90 pounds per acre as a general recommendation. Rates will vary by variety based on yield potential and straw strength. Protein levels are generally higher with spring wheat than winter wheat and growers have little difficulty reaching 12.5% protein for maximum protein premiums without using split applications of N. Consult soil tests and OMAFRA recommendations for P and K application rates.

Weed Control

Spring wheat is less competitive than spring barley, making good weed control even more critical to successful performance. Consider using a burn down in the fall or early spring to catch quack grass and other hard-to-control perennial weeds.

Fungicides

While fungicides are not required to successfully grow spring wheat, they can sometimes provide an economic advantage. The best approach is to scout the crop throughout the growing season. Varieties respond differently due to their relative resistance to different diseases. Folicur application at early heading appears to be economical in most cases and provides additional protection against fusarium head blight.

Combining

Timely harvest is critical to milling wheat quality. Every effort should be made to harvest as soon as possible after crop maturity. Some varieties such as Quantum are more susceptible to quality deterioration. Harvesting wheat when moisture levels are above average is much more cost effective than having your wheat down-graded due to poor quality.

Please contact C&M Seeds if you have any further questions regarding spring wheat management.