Crop Quest President & Agronomist, Dwight Koops, digging for cutworms. The season has kicked off with warmer temperatures allowing alfalfa to break for many and wheat is putting on new tillers – especially on some of the later planted wheat fields. Unfortunately, these warmer temperatures are making army cutworms active as well. These [...]
The change that has occurred in the burned pastures of Southwest Kansas, Oklahoma, and the Texas Panhandle since March has been nothing less than spectacular. The initial loss of livestock, wildlife, fences, buildings and homes is being replaced with the hope of this land returning to full production. From a distance, you would never know [...]
As wheat planting season approaches, a couple important questions arise. When should we kill the volunteer wheat, and how soon before drilling? Volunteer wheat needs to be controlled at least two weeks prior to drilling. This should eliminate the majority of pests that are using the volunteer wheat as a host. Producers may not have [...]
Wheat harvest will wrap up shortly across the High Plains. It was an interesting year. A dry fall and winter was followed by an unusually wet spring. Late freeze and snow events added to the roller coaster that is growing wheat! As you prepare for sowing wheat again this fall, it is time to look [...]
Many producers plan on saving back some wheat for seed. This is partially a cost saving decision. But the question is whether it truly is cheaper to save your own seed vs buying certified seed. Starting with a good quality clean seed at planting is one of the most important things we do. We very [...]
Well, it’s that time of year again! Spring time is quickly approaching and we are starting to see a green up in our winter wheat crops. An overall general statement would be that the wheat crop so far is looking pretty average in comparison to other years. It is very hard to make money on [...]
With the recent uptrend in soybean prices, many producers are showing more incentive to plant double crop (DC) soybeans following irrigated wheat this season. Recent rainfall and milder temperatures have allowed many producers to save a significant amount of water during the flowering and grain fill stages of their wheat crop. In southwest and south [...]
In much of the Crop Quest trade area, wheat is considered a dual purpose crop. It can be utilized for grazing and grain. The wheat is drilled earlier in the season if going for grazing only and planted at a higher seeding rate to provide plenty of forage for cattle during the winter months. When [...]
As producers begin to make preparations for fall seeding of winter wheat, one of the decisions to be made is how much seed to plant per acre. Those who may still be planting by pounds or bushels per acre may want to consider a different approach. They may want to set their drill to deliver [...]
Winter wheat planting time is rapidly approaching. Now is the time to evaluate your seed supply for its quality. Having seed cleaned to eliminate the light test weight kernels is a good idea. If the germination rate is low (less than 90%) you may want to use a seed treatment to increase the survivability rate [...]
You have spider mites! Just the shear words to both producer and agronomist will send a cold chill down their spine. Both banks grass and two spotted mites can be the most difficult pest to control in the High Plains region. Spider mites are unique as they are not an insect but rather fall in [...]
The High Plains have experienced an extended drought for the past number of years. Lower than average precipitation has plagued some areas for over a decade. Years like 2011 and 2012 rivaled some of the dry, hot years of the 1930’s and 1950’s. Recently, the weather pattern has been a little more tolerable, and soaking [...]
Is it just me, or do skeptics of GMO crops just like to consume products that have been treated with more pesticides? We hear about the marketing schemes touting non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, sustainable agriculture, or whatever other buzzword that can be used to prey on what I believe is an uninformed consumer. I have no [...]
Stripe rust is caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis and is one of the most prevalent and destructive diseases of wheat in the world. It has caused major losses in wheat crops around the world for many decades, and it continues to be a problem. Kansas wheat losses from Stripe Rust have been reported up [...]
Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for wheat and other small grain production. In many ways it is even more important than nitrogen. We always think of nitrogen as the nutrient that allows plants to grow vigorously, and get the crop off to a good start, but without proper phosphorus levels, adequate or excess nitrogen will [...]
