Five Keys to Successful Fall Winter Wheat Establishment October 9, 2024 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Article by Matt Laevens Crop Sales Specialist AGRIS Co-operative - Tupperville/Thamesville North Are you ready to maximize your winter wheat establishment? Discover five essential keys to ensure successful planting, from selecting the right seed variety to effective weed control. Get expert insights that can help you achieve higher yields and better crop health this season. Seed/Variety/Treatment Selection Choosing the right wheat seed variety is just as crucial as it is for corn and soybeans. Reliable high-yielding varieties like Blaze and Cruze offer strong plant health characteristics. If you're aiming for high straw yields, consider Swoop; however, it’s recommended to use a Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) to ensure it stands well on productive ground. Looking ahead, Fuze, a new variety for 2025, will have limited seed availability but shows promise with high yields and excellent plant health characteristics. Fall Fertility Maximizing winter wheat yields depends heavily on soil fertility, and wheat is particularly responsive to fall-applied phosphorus. If you don’t have a recent soil test, applying at least the crop removal rate is recommended to maintain fertility levels. Planting Date For most areas in Chatham-Kent, the optimal planting window is between October 5th and 15th. When planting during this period, aim for a seeding rate of 1.6 million seeds per acre. Keep in mind that seed size can vary between varieties, so if you're planting bin-run wheat, it's best to perform a seed count to determine seeds per pound. For planting past the optimal window, increase the seeding rate by 150,000 to 200,000 seeds per acre for each week of delay. Timely planting encourages more fall tillers and improves winter hardiness. Planting Depth Winter wheat planting depth can vary depending on field conditions, but aim for a minimum seeding depth of 1.25 inches. It's essential to seed into moisture for consistent emergence. In heavier soils, if moisture isn’t found deeper than 2.5 to 3 inches, it may be best to seed at the shallow depth of 1.25 inches and wait for rain to ensure successful emergence. Fall Weed Control Research highlights that the critical weed-free period for winter wheat is in the fall. This is the best time to control tough perennial weeds such as dandelion and glyphosate tolerant Canada Fleabane. Depending on your situation, consider a pre-emergence application of Glyphosate and Eragon, or a post-emergence application of Infinity FX. One added benefit of effective fall weed control is the potential to skip a spring herbicide application, which can lead to better crop safety during the T1 timing for wheat and any under-seeded clover cover crops. Related Items Soybean Sulphur Trial: Unlocking Yield Potential with Sulphur Nutrition Sulphur is an essential nutrient for soybean production, playing a key role in protein synthesis, oil content, and overall plant health. As soybean yields continue to rise, ensuring adequate Sulphur nutrition is more important than ever — especially in soils prone to Sulphur deficiencies. Read the full story It’s Time to Evaluate Your Crop Stands After a more reasonable start to the 2025 planting season—especially compared to last year—Mother Nature tossed in some late-May surprises with cooler, wetter weather. As warmer conditions return and planting wraps up in early June, one critical task should be on every grower’s to-do list: evaluate your crop stands. Read the full story Didn’t Add Boron to Your Corn Starter? It’s Not Too Late to Boost Your Yield! Boron is a small but essential micronutrient that plays a big role in corn production. Even though it’s only needed in tiny amounts, boron is critical for healthy crop development, stronger plants, and higher yields. Read the full story