From Carol Pinnell-Alison
LSU AgCenter County Agent in Franklin Parish
Fall is in the air -- with cooler temperatures and fewer hours of daylight. Producers are finishing harvest of summer crops and making plans for planting their fall crops.
The price at which producers can book wheat is lower than last fall, and fertilizer and fuel prices are higher, making it more difficult to show a profit planting wheat. The average wheat yield in Franklin Parish last year was 65 bushels per acre. The five-year average is 58 bushels per acre. Producers need to estimate the cost of their production, their yield potential and the price they can book wheat to determine if wheat is profitable for them.
The recommended planting dates for wheat grain production in North Louisiana are between October 15 and November 15. It is important to remember that wheat planted earlier is more likely to be damaged by insects and disease in the fall along with accumulating excessive growth. Plant late-heading varieties first and early-heading varieties last to avoid spring freeze damage to the heads. Wheat planted late may be susceptible to winter kill or uneven maturity if the variety requires a long vernalization.
Reoccurring problems in wheat production in Franklin Parish are planting on poorly drained land with low fertility and low pH, poor seed bed preparation, poor weed control and planting varieties with little resistance to disease.
For the best results in wheat production, a producer needs to select a variety that performs well in North Louisiana with a good disease-resistance package. These varieties preformed well in North Louisiana the past two years: AGS 2060, USG 3555, USG 3295, Ragan & Massey LA95135, Pioneer 26R87, USG 3592, AGS 2026, Terral LA841, AgriPro Coker Magnolia, AGS 2031, Jamestown, Delta King GR9108, and AgriPro Coker 9700. Refer to the LSU AgCenter Web site for the complete list of varieties tested.
It is important to plant during the recommended planting dates on a location that has good surface and internal drainage. The seed bed should be well prepared and weed free and planting should be done with a grain drill set to plant to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. Plant a seeding rate of 60 to 75 pounds per acre of high quality seed. Adjust the seeding rate up to 75 to 120 pounds per acre if planting broadcast, planting late or planting into poorly prepared seedbed.
Risks are part of agriculture. It is important to know how to minimize risks. Wheat can fit well in a business plan if a producer has well-drained land. Wheat can be planted on this land during what is normally considered the off months. This can provide additional income. Producers should consider planting wheat on the well-drained soil that can't be irrigated. After wheat harvest leave this land fallow during the summer growing season. A producer can then concentrate on planting the irrigated land on time.
Producers are double-cropping wheat with soybeans, cotton and grain sorghum. If double-cropping, plant into well-drained soils that can be irrigated and choose varieties with maturity dates that will allow timely harvest and planting of the second crop. Be aware of herbicide rotational restrictions for subsequent crops.
Producers need to scout wheat for fall armyworms. We have had treatable numbers of this insect in summer pastures, and these infestations may carry over into fall crops.
For more information on wheat production in the area, please call the LSU AgCenter's Franklin Parish Extension Office at (318) 435-7551 or go online at www.lsuagcenter.com/wheat/ and select under sub-topics “Variety Trials and Recommendations.”