window treatments Follow

The following are some thoughts on maximizing yield potential in small grains starting in the fall establishment period. Over half of the yield potential is determined during the establishment period in the fall. The goal should be to have a uniform and vigorous stand that is established well ahead of winter but not so far ahead as to have excessive growth. Adequate fall tillering is required for top yields. This requires that small grains be planted on-time. The ideal planting window for barley is October 1-10, the ideal planting window for wheat is October 8-25 in mid-state. You should ideally have 2 tillers per plant by the time winter sets in. Early wheat and barley seedings before these planting windows can lead to increased pest problems and excessive growth that may lead to winter kill. Later plantings reduce yield potential significantly by not having adequate tillering. Adequate amounts of seed need to be planted. Excessive seeding rates really do not help yield. The goal is to have 22-35 good vigorous plants per square foot. The range of 25-30 should be targeted in Delaware. To get this population, adjust seeding rates taking into account seed size and germination rate. The target is usually 1.5 million seeds per acre with seed at 90% or better germination. Plant at the proper depth. 1.5 inches should be the target. Shallow plantings lead to reduced stands and more winter kill. Use drills that place seed at a uniform depth and at the proper seeding rate. Particular attention needs to be paid to no-till drills when planting no-till small grain. Most of the yield reductions we see in no-till small grains comes from not having a uniform stand and this goes back to the planter and planting conditions. You need to cut through the crop residue and place the seed at the proper depth across the whole field. Residue management becomes a major issue in no-till. Use high quality seed that has been treated with fungicides. Farm saved seed needs to be cleaned, conditioned to remove underweight seeds, and treated. Certified seed commonly gives several bushels per acre more yield. Use varities tested in DE with high yield potential, limited lodging, and high test weight potential. Pay attention to fall weeds. Fall weed control programs will reduce winter annual weed pressure and lead to increased yields. While spring weed control is often successful, missed timings, delayed applications, and reduced herbicide options often lead to weed competition that reduces yields. Fall pest management can be important for preserving yields. Aphids are the most important insect to scout for and control. Aphids are best managed by not planting too early. Even so, in some years, certain fields not early planted will have fall aphid problems. If you have a history of aphids in small grains on a farm, consider using insecticidal seed treatments for aphids (applied to seed prior to planting). For early planted fields and all fields in a Fall with unusually warm weather, fields should be scouted for aphids and a foliar insecticide applied if found in significant numbers. If greenbug aphids are found, they definately need to be controlled. Armyworms can also be a pest in some fields, especially if early planted. In wheat, powdery mildew in the fall can also be an issue, especially with susceptible varieties and excessive growth. The best option is to only use resistant varieties. Fungicidal seed treatments with powdery mildew activity should be used for susceptible varieties. In fields that are prone to staying wet, use a seed treatment that has activity on Pythium to control seedling blights. Again both of these decisions need to be made at the time of seed treatment or when you purchase your seed. Fall weed control often gives better results in small grains than spring programs. A prime example is when using Osprey to control grass weeds or certain winter annual broadleaf weeds in wheat. The following is from Mark VanGessel, UD Extension Weed Science Specialist: "Osprey is registered for grass weeds in winter wheat, including annual ryegrass and annual blue grass. Osprey also controls a number of broadleaf weeds that are common in our area. Osprey is not labeled for barley. Osprey is used at 4.75 oz wt/A. Application timing is emergence to jointing of wheat or 2 leaf to 2-tiller grasses. Osprey requires a non-ionic surfactant plus nitrogen. Fertilizer nitrogen (28 to 32% N solutions) should be used at 1 to 2 qt/A. Ammonium sulfate (AMS) can be used at 1.5 to 3 lb/A. Osprey can be applied with methylated seed oil. Osprey should not be applied with crop oils or silicone based surfactants. Osprey is not labeled for use with liquid fertilizer carriers. The label states that liquid fertilizer solutions should be no more than 15% of the spray carrier volume. Nitrogen fertilizer greater than 15% of the spray volume should not be applied within 14 days of the Osprey application, which makes timing of spring applications difficult. As a result, fall applications are more appropriate than spring. Osprey can be tankmixed with a Harmony GT and Harmony Extra (as well as other herbicides), but tankmixtures with Banvel/Clarity or 2,4-D may reduce grass control. The grasses specifically mentioned on the label that are important in our region are annual ryegrass (it will not control volunteer grain rye), annual bluegrass, and roughstalk bluegrass. The label lists brome species as suppression. Broadleaf activity is good on wild radish and wild mustard plus suppression of henbit and common chickweed. UD has tested Osprey for ryegrass the past two to three years with favorable results. Soybeans can be planted 90 days after treatment and refer to the label for other crops." Gordon Johnson, Extension Agriculture Agent, UD, Kent County