Then most of the region received several hard consecutive freezes.  So, what effect did that have on our wheat?  Will it cost yield?  

See what Dr. Edwards has to say:  http://osuwheat.com/

Kevin Brown

Sales Agronomist

WB Johnston Grain Co.

Continue to scout your fields and plan ahead because if there is a disease/pest run ground rigs and air planes can rapidly become scarce and then gets too late to prevent yield loss.  It is a good idea to book or purchase your fungicide now as availability may be an issue in a disease event. 

Now is the time to start planning for a foliar fungicide.  Disease has been spotted in Texas and other south eastern states which invariably means that we will have an increased likely hood for disease pressure.   I understand that there are resistant varieties of wheat, but resistance is just that...resistance.  

Last year was a prime example on how a well timed flag leaf fungicide application worked.  I had producers who saved over 10 bushels from applied to non applied acres.  Last year, that equated to $80.00/acre.  Less the $20.00/ acre for Quilt and aerial application which resulted in a net gain of $60.00/acre. 

Take a look at this PowerPoint link published by Syngenta:  Syngenta Fungicide Presentation.  Please take particular note of the slide that shows the 5 year bushel average across the country (page 21).  Our region produced 13.3 bu/acre average increase.  Data continues to support using fungicides to promote Plant Health.  As a result, we see increased yields even when there is no disease present.  

Please note that there is a difference in fungicides in terms of length of control and mode of action.  Not all are created equal.  Use full rates and look for fungicides that provide the greatest length of control. 

Kevin Brown

Sales Agronomist

WB Johnston Grain Co

Thank you for your partnership.

Kevin Brown

Sales Agronomist WB Johnston Grain Co. 

Aphid identification and control in winter wheat

Hessian fly identification and control in winter wheat

Mite identification and control in winter wheat 

OSU Entomologist Offers Tips on Controlling Grasshoppers in Wheat and Canola

Stinking smut seen in some west-central Oklahoma wheat

ARAPAHO, Okla. – Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offices have received reports about the presence of common bunt – also known as stinking smut – in wheat harvested in Roger Mills, Washita and Custer counties.
“In at least one of these cases, the load was rejected by the elevator and the grower was told to not return with similar wheat,” said Mark Gregory, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension area agronomy specialist for the region.
It may seem like “piling on” to wheat growers who have all ready faced a number of damaging factors this year: longstanding drought conditions, untimely freezes followed by excessive heat and sustained winds so strong that a person could hit a tennis ball and almost have it fly back in one’s face.
Bunts and smuts are caused by fungi that affect the seed of wheat and other small grains and grasses. The two that occur in Oklahoma are loose smut and common bunt.
“Common bunt is evident before harvest when developing seeds in infected heads reveal seeds that are filled with black spores with an associated rotted, musty odor, giving the bunt its other widely used name of stinking smut,” said Bob Hunger, OSU Cooperative Extension wheat pathologist.
During harvest, these bunted kernels – often called “bunt balls” – usually break and the spores are disbursed onto healthy grain and into the soil. When this infested grain is planted the next fall, either spores on the grain or spores in the soil germinate and infect the young seedling. The fungus then grows with the plant and bunted or smutty heads are produced instead of healthy heads.
“Loose smut is evident in wheat at heading when infected heads show masses of powdery black spores instead of developing kernels,” Hunger said. “Spores of loose smut have no odor and are usually gone by harvest time.”
Wind spreads the spores to healthy heads where they infect developing wheat kernels and then lie dormant until that seed is planted in the fall. The loose smut fungus then infects that seedling and grows with the plant, producing loose-smutted heads.
Loose smut and common bunt are readily controlled by planting seed wheat treated with a fungicide that is active against the bunts/smuts.
“Nearly all current seed treatments contain a fungicide that is systemic, that is they contain a chemical that moves into the germinating seedling and will kill the fungus inside the seedling,” Gregory said.
Some treatments also may contain a contact chemical, which does not move into the germinating seedling but rather stays on the outer surface.
“Always make sure that the seed treatment used is composed of a systemic fungicide or a systemic plus a contact fungicide,” Gregory said. “This is especially critical with loose smut because this fungus already is located inside the kernels rather than on the surface or in the soil as with common bunt.”
Many of the current seed treatments also will offer early season protection against other seedling diseases as well as against insect pests such as aphids.
In summary, Gregory and Hunger recommend that a wheat producer’s checklist in selecting a seed treatment ensure the following:
● Be certain that a compound with activity against common bunt and loose smut is included;
● Be sure that seed is thoroughly treated at the recommended rate; and
● Always read and follow all directions on the product label.
A complete listing of seed treatments that are registered for control of bunts and smuts is available in the most recent edition of the OSU Extension Agents’ Handbook of Insect, Plant Disease and Weed Control, accessible through all OSU Cooperative Extension county offices.

REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Donald Stotts
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
143 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078-0001
Phone: 405-744-4079
Fax: 405-744-5739
E-Mail: donald.stotts@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating; Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures, and is an equal opportunity employer.

This field is in Northern Garfield Co. The picture was taken on 6/16/11. Notice how the area bordering the wheat field has died. Chinch Bugs migrate out of winter wheat as it dries down searching for a green growing host. They really prefer to feed on grain sorghum (milo) and Johnson Grass which is also a sorghum.

Chinch Bugs typically feed in the whorl of the plant at this growth stage. They inject toxins into the milo plant that will eventually kill the plant if not controlled. Since they are protected in the whorl of the plants it is difficult to get insecticides in contact with the pest. This is the reason we are required to spray at least 20 gallons per acre to get the insecticide into the whorl.

Dead milo plant caused by Chinch Bug feeding.

If you are planning to plant milo soon please take all precautions to prevent this pest from invading your fields.
1) Check patches of Johnson Grass bordering your field for infestation of chinch bugs.
2) Plant Gaucho or Poncho treated seed
3) Add a quality insecticide ie. Mustang Max to your herbicide treatment to kill any chinch bugs that may be in your fields

If you have milo planted and are concerned about this pest and would like to have your field scouted; contact your local WB Johnston location and we will make arrangements to inspect your milo fields.

Click on Link Above to Phosphorus Shortage Article

Above is an industry press release concerning high dockage and FM wheat in OK. I would encourage you to help get the word out as this is a very important issue for the industry.  Johnston's is here to partner with our customers on any efforts they may have on their farm. I just hope that it is not to little too late. We have to encourage now more than ever the importance of Clean OK Grown Wheat to compete with our surrounding states.

They seem to prefer to feed on pigweeds first and then soybeans.

We strongly suggest that producers scout soybean fields before spraying glyphosate on Round Up

Ready soybeans and adding a quality insecticide (ie. Baythroid) to the roundup treatments.

Van

A special thanks to the BASF team for allowing us to provide this information to you!

In this issue …
    •Tissue testing
    •Low protein improvements
    •Burndown treatments
    •Goals for next year
    •Hay production losses
    •Double cropping grain sorghum
    •Upcoming events you do not want to miss

Weedmaster which is a pre-mix of 2-4,D is labeled at 7 days from treatment to harvest. 

Click here to see the label for Weedmaster.

Call your local retail branch for more information.

Van Schuermann - Northeast Region Manager

Van Schuermann - Northeast Region Manager

From observations at several OSU variety plots Endurance appears to be ahead in maturity compared with some of the other varieties that we consider early maturing ei. Jagger. This has been discussed with Dr. Brett Carver (the breeder of Endurance) he brought to our attention that Endurance initiates it’s reproductive phase based on day length and not accumulated growing degree days like most of the varieties with parentage back to Jagger. Considering the cool spring conditions we have seen this explains why we see this difference in maturity.

Endurance has been a consistent performing wheat which is the reason more acres are planted to Endurance than any other variety in Oklahoma. Since it typically matures later than Jagger and the Jagger siblings: Bullet, Shocker, Santa Fe, Overley, Fuller and Jagalene many farmers have counted on Endurance to be maturing in the field while they are harvesting the early varieties. This will most likely not be the case in 2010.

We hope this allows Oklahoma wheat producers better plan for the 2010 wheat harvest.

Respectfully Submitted,

Van Schuermann - Northeast Region Manager