Local producers consider planting wheat this fall

Fair Haven farmer Wade Rapp, center, checks the maturation of his wheat, in late May, with his sons Layne, left, and Nolan. Rapp had said the warm winter and early spring will lead them to harvest their 1,000-acre crop three weeks earlier than usual, starting the last week in May. Since then, severe drought struck the area, and now some are looking at planting wheat this fall, both as a grain crop and to provide fall and early spring grazing. Local University of Missouri Extension Agronomy Specialist Pat Miller says with careful management, such a plan could work in Vernon County.

Nevada Daily Mail

Recent rains have given producers hope that they may be able to plant wheat this fall. Pat Miller, University of Missouri Extension Agronomy Specialist, said producers may be looking to plant wheat not only for a grain crop but also to provide some fall and early spring grazing. Grazing wheat is a common practice farther west where soils are better drained and expected rainfall is less.

"It can work here," said Miller, "but if we expect to also get a grain crop we have to limit grazing to when the field is dry or the ground is frozen. And we have to remove livestock before the wheat joints in the spring."

As tempting as it may be to graze earlier, fall grazing should be delayed until plants are well established (6 to 8 inches high). Small grain plants grazed before this time will likely suffer from severe defoliation and result in lower fall and spring production. On the other hand, excessive delay will result in rank, succulent plants which are easily damaged during grazing. Stocking rate should be light enough to avoid continuous complete removal of top growth (graze to about 2-3 inches). Strip grazing will allow producers to better control grazing heights and reduce trampling.

According to Miller, "we also have to account for what nitrogen is removed through grazing." One advantage will be that many fields will have nitrogen carried over from the previous crop of corn. It is possible to test soils for residual nitrogen before deciding application rates.

See University of Missouri Extension guide sheet G9177 for testing procedures, at http://

extension.missouri.edu/p/G9177, "Carryover of herbicide from previous crops may be of concern when planting," said Miller.

Be sure to check herbicide labels and, if needed, do a bioassay before planting, Miller advised. A bioassay consists of collecting soil from several places in the field and planting wheat in it to see how it grows.

For more information, contact Miller at (417) 448-2560 or contact the local University of Missouri Extension Center.