Featured audio: Drought conditions delay wheat emergence

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA

With the extreme drought conditions in northwest Ohio, several fields of wheat planted in late September and early October have yet to emerge. What does this mean for the crop? Laura Lindsey, Ph.D., OSU Extension soybean and small grain specialist says that not all hope is lost, and there is still the potential for an acceptable stand and yield.

“It is extremely unfortunate having these dry conditions in northwest Ohio,” Lindsey said.  “At Ohio State, we have done a lot of planting date research in northwest Ohio. Granted, it is not the same as when it is too dry, but it is similar in the sense that germination and emergence are later than what we would expect.”

Over the last four growing seasons, Lindsey and her team have been re-evaluating wheat planting dates with dates ranging from September 13 through November 10.

“When we planted in northwest Ohio the first week of November, there is a yield penalty compared to a more timely planting around that Hessian fly-free date, but it is not quite as large as what someone would think,” Lindsey said. “There is some variability, but over the past four years there has been about a 10 bushel per acre yield penalty when we planted the first week of November compared to that fly-free date.”

Read more about Lindsey’s research here.