Spring Wheat Planting Delayed

Spring Wheat Planting Delayed

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report.

Don Drader Agronomy Service Representative for Syngenta gives an update on spring wheat planting status for Pacific Northwest.

Drader: “Well, I think in spring wheat might be slightly delayed this year because of the unusually wet record rainfall that we’ve had. So we have a lot of areas where the winter wheat looks good but the spring wheat planting is delayed because growers just can’t get in the field. Some areas set new records for rainfall last month. So we like moisture, just not all at once.”

In addition to determining what varieties to plant this spring, Drader mentions the importance of seed treatments.

Drader: “Then also they need to look at seed treatments. We have a cool wet spring so they need to sure they’ve a good fungicide on their side like Dividend Extreme. Also wireworms are becoming more of an issue in different fields across in the Pacific Northwest. They’ve been there for years, but in recent years it seems like we’ve seen and heard about more and more showing up in the fields.”

Another issue growers need to pay attention to is Stripe Rust. Drader says that although it may not be as bad has it has been in the last several years, it is still a concern.

Drader: “So they need to be scouting their fields and looking at their neighbors’ fields, especially if they are up wind from them. Then looking at the various reports released from extension and the universities as to identifying Stripe Rust in the area.”

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.