Despite the challenges of current market conditions, cooler than average temperatures and increasing weed pressures, USDA’s April 27, 2020 Crop Progress report indicates 2020 might be a “normal” year for wheat production. But growers also know “normal” can still have wide variations from state to state.
The April 27 report shows the winter wheat headed in the top 18 wheat states was 21 percent, just shy of matching the week’s five-year average at 25 percent. Overall, the U.S. winter wheat crop in the 18-state average is rated 7 percent excellent, 47 percent good, 31 percent fair, 11 percent poor and 4 percent very poor.
SPRING WHEAT IS ANOTHER STORY
The April 27 report states growers sowed only 14 percent of the nation’s spring wheat crop. In the past five-year average, growers sowed 29 percent at this point in the year.
Cool temperatures and moisture were partly to blame for the delay in field work, the report shows. The previous week’s report, released April 20, showed only 7% of spring wheat had been sown.
In Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, the percentage of acres planted were significantly behind the five-year average.
Washington saw the largest percentage of the spring wheat crop emerged at 60 percent–a big leap from 3 percent in the same reporting week in 2019, and much higher than the state’s five-year average of 24 percent.
Emergence in Idaho was also higher at 14 percent for the week ending April 26, 2020, up from 7 percent last year, but less than the state’s five-year average of 19 percent.
Surplus moisture in April is likely part of the compounding reason for the variations. A large majority of the spring wheat states also reported surplus topsoil moisture conditions through the month. As temperatures continue to warm, farmers need to consider crop health tools to maximize their revenues.
PROTECT YIELD AND CONTROL WEEDS
From herbicides to fungicides, wheat growers will need to scout regularly to nurture a crop to harvest. Due to excess moisture in 2018 and 2019, growers will likely be faced with several flushes of weeds through the season. Managing the number of weed seeds in your fields starts with a successful burndown and timely applications through the season.
Growers in the Wheat Belt can achieve cleaner fields with PRE-PARE® Herbicide. When used as a burndown herbicide in spring and winter wheat, it offers control of downy brome, a weed that can reduce yields by 10 to 20 percent. When added to glyphosate, it provides enhanced contact and residual soil activity for grassy and broadleaf weeds. PRE-PARE’s extended control is superior to using glyphosate alone.
For years, growers have relied on EVEREST®, a highly effective Group 2 herbicide, to control hard-to-kill grasses such as wild oats, green and yellow foxtail and bromes. With a new flucarbazone-sodium formulation, EVEREST® 3.0 has a new carrier technology that gives the active ingredients greater stability for enhanced performance and a longer shelf life. EVEREST 3.0 can be applied through tillering in winter and spring wheat to provide Flush after flush® control of a wide variety of grassy and broadleaf weeds.
DON’T LET THE CROP BE STRESSED
Growers can see yield increases from adding a fungicide application in-season. Over-the-top applications of EVITO®, FORTIX®, or ZOLERA® FX fungicides can improve stress tolerance, control disease and improve water utilization.
EVITO Fungicide takes the power of strobilurin chemistry to the next level, with a highly systemic formula that provides fast, reliable and long-lasting protection. EVITO has superior leaf penetration and moves rapidly through the xylem. Even product that falls onto the soil will be taken up through the root system. And with residual soil activity, rain or irrigation will give it a second boost for even longer-lasting protection.
For one-application, season-long benefits, FORTIX Fungicide combines a long-lasting strobilurin with the longest lasting triazole on the market. It can be applied early in the season by ground, or later in the season by air.
ZOLERA FX, recently approved for use in wheat, combines a fast-acting strobilurin (fluoxastrobin) and systemic triazole (tetraconazole) at full rates. It offers both foliar and soil uptake, so the product can enter through leaves, stems and roots.
To learn more about the UPL spring and winter wheat products, contact your local UPL sales representative or visit upl-ltd.com/us.
