Farm Director KC Sheperd is talking with Oklahoma State University small grains extension specialist Dr. Amanda Silva about this year’s wheat crop and more.
“We are very excited with this fall forage growth this year, especially as we compare with last year,” Silva said.
Silva said winter wheat in Oklahoma is looking good, as there has been a lot of growth, and cattle are out grazing wheat pasture.
“I haven’t heard much about insect damage or disease problems, so fortunately, our fall forage production has been very good this year,” Silva said.
Last year’s drought hurt forage growth significantly, Silva said, so this year is already looking up, as there have been some good rains. To see this current wheat crop across the finish line, Silva said there will need to be mild temperatures and additional moisture.
“We are in a better situation than we were last year, but still, some places haven’t received as much rain in the past weeks,” Silva said. “I have heard producers saying that the top layer of the soil is already getting try, so it would be beneficial to continue to receive rain in different parts of the state for sure.”
Silva also talked about a project regarding late-planted winter wheat.
“We are looking at different varieties, with different maturity patterns, so including that short season wheat, but also varieties that we have grown in the state for a long time, and evaluating different seeding rates,” Silva said. “We are evaluating the differences of those varieties, and what would be the best management practices we should adopt when we delay planting.”
Delay panting can be due to double cropping systems, Silva said, but also the weather.
“The main goal of this research is to provide information to producers in situations where we have to delay planting, especially a month or and a month and a half away from our optimal planting date,” Silva said.
Amanda Silva was also featured on the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast, as she gave an update on the Oklahoma wheat crop and discussed some of her research into helping future wheat crops thrive across the Southern Great Plains. To listen to the episode, CLICK HERE!
