1 Texas Liquid Fertilizer Wheat 2006 Spring Guide

2 Texas Liquid Commitment to you Increase yields Lower Costs Help solve those production problems that limit profitability

3 U.S Wheat Situation: Less Carryover

4 U.S Wheat Situation Planted and harvested acres are going down Demand is stable USDA average farm price for wheat = $3.40 per bushel in 2004 & 2005 Price forecast for July ’06 wheat = $3.40 to $3.60 per bushel

5 Where are we?

6 Dayton, Texas Rain/Month 03/0404/0505/06 November December January Total Rain

7 Where are we? Roots are mostly in good health Tillering is widely variable even in the same fields Seed depth was variable due to dry conditions in fall, 2005

8 Where are we?

9 Where do we go from here? Manage topdress fertilizer (35% of yield potential) Balance plant food (tissue sampling) Protect yields – Control spring diseases – Control weeds – Control insects – Reduce lodging

10 Wheat Growth Stages

11 Wheat N Use Chart GS 2-3 GS 5 GS 10.5 Plant nitrogen uptake increases during elongation and head formation to flowering

12 Winter Nitrogen In some fields that had a big corn/cotton crop, nitrogen may be playing out

13 Wheat Situations (GS3) Where fertilizer was applied prior to planting, check tillers at GS3 to see if additional nitrogen is needed. Count the tillers per square foot and apply nitrogen according to the GS3 chart(next slide).

14 Wheat GS3 Chart Figure how many inches of row to include a square foot Count the tillers Figure if any extra N is needed Keep N:S ratio at 8:1 tiller count/ft GS3 Lbs/A Nitrogen Lbs/A Sulfur < to to to > 10000

15 Wheat Situations No fall applied fertilizer: needs an early winter application of NPK Count the tillers per square foot and apply nitrogen and sulfur according to the GS3 chart. Add 40 lbs. each of P and K with 1 lb. of zinc. Add an extra 40 lbs. of potash if planning to double-crop soybeans after the wheat.

16 Wheat Situations No fall or early winter application of NPK: will apply one shot at GS5 (mid winter) apply 100 to 140 lbs. of nitrogen: add 40 lbs. each of P and K with 1 lb. of zinc and 12 to 17 lbs. sulfur at GS5. Take a flag leaf tissue sample to see check the nitrogen status. Use 10 to 30 gals. of U22 Tiger Juice® to add additional nitrogen if needed at GS9.

17 Wheat GS5 Plant Tissue Samples Used to determine balance of N to apply In 2004, in DSS, rates ranged from 60 to 120 lbs. The most cost effective means of applying the correct amount of nitrogen. Used to balance sulfur and micronutrients

18 Micronutrients Manganese/Zinc has already showed up in December (symptoms are similar) Zinc continues to be limiting

19 When To sample for GS5 Sample here!

20 Plant Tissue Guides N Rates We use this chart to recommend the balance of N in winter: The higher the plant N levels the less N the wheat will need.

21 Wheat After Milo Dec., 2005: Wheat planted after grain sorghum; KSU researchers have found that adding an additional 40 lbs. of nitrogen can help overcome this drag. Wheat planted after sorghum on left: after corn on right Wheat planted after sorghum on right: after corn on left

22 GS5 Nitrogen Rates No tissue sample (fall N applied) GS5 Recommendations for Wheat* Soil Type and DrainageLbs N/ATime of Application Sandy loams and silt loams which do not waterlog readily 80before jointing (G.S. 5) Clays and silt loams which waterlog readily 100 before jointing (G.S. 5) Silty clays and clays (Ca > 4500) with yield potential > 55 bu/A 110before jointing (G.S. 5) *Second application may be adjusted based on weather and/or plant analysis.

23 GS5 Nitrogen Rates No tissue sample (no fall N applied) GS5 N Recommendations for Wheat* Soil Type and DrainageLbs N/ATime of Application Sandy loams and silt loams which do not waterlog readily 100before jointing (G.S. 5) Clays and silt loams which waterlog readily 120before jointing (G.S. 5) Silty clays and clays (Ca > 4500) with yield potential > 55 bu/A 140before jointing (G.S. 5) *Second application may be adjusted based on weather and/or plant analysis.

24 Foliar N at GS9 Heavy rains cause N losses to go up thru the air (denitrification) Heavy spring rains cause N to leach Should be done with a plant tissue sample. To make sure we have enough N to produce yields and test weight. Discover correct N application rates to avoid over/under fertilization with N.

25 Spring Foliar Applications Sample here!

26 Foliar Applications ag.systems 1990 Plant tissue samples pulled between Feekes 8 and 9 Twenty flag leaves per field Nitrogen rates vary from 10 to 20 gals. of U22 Tiger Juice® Use as a carrier for fungicide

27 U23 Made specifically for foliar applications Has given yield increases up to 15 bushels per acre: increased test weight by 2# Low salt, low burn Can be used as a carrier for wheat fungicides/insecticides Available only from Texas Liquid Fertilizer

28 Sulfur on Wheat DSS clearly shows that wheat responds to sulfur where needed Bu./A

29 Sulfur on Wheat Wheat responds to sulfur where needed Response greatest on sandy or loess soils Use in an 8:1 ratio with nitrogen: for every eight lbs. of nitrogen, add 1 lb. of sulfur Do not use sulfur fertilizers if adding a fungicide with nitrogen to avoid leaf burn

30 Crop Protection Controlling diseases and/or insects does not add any bushels: it protects what you have produced Weather conditions, variety selection and fungicide timing will impact your return on disease investment Adequate fertility (especially P and Zn) to hasten maturity will offer best protection against diseases. If diseases hit after certain growth stages, damage is limiting

31 Wheat Diseases Leaf Rust (59 0 to 72 0 incubation: use fungicide) Stem Rust (70 0 to 80 0 incubation : use fungicide) Septoria (Leaf and Glume Blotch) (6 hrs. LW, 59 0 to 80 0 incubation : use fungicide) Scab (variety, plant health and nutrition: no fungicide available)

32 Variety Ratings TLF 2005 recommended varieties Gray highlighted boxes indicate high susceptibility to stripe rust; Orange indicates leaf rust. If conditions are right, all varieties will get infected. Variety Avg. Yield Test Weight Heading Day DK GR Terral LA USG DK 1551W Agripro Panola COKER USG Terral TV Vigoro McIntosh PAT

33 Weather Conditions Between March 1 and April 30, leaf wetness becomes the main factor in determining disease infections & 2004 had longer periods of leaf wetness than 2005, enhancing disease pressure. Year Avg. High Tempt Avg. Low Tempt Rainfall inches %RH Hrs Leaf Wetness Dayton, TX

34 Spring Diseases The results from a fungicide spray will depend on pressure, timing and the variety susceptibility. Wheat rust was identified in January 2005

35 Spring Diseases The results from a fungicide spray will depend on pressure, timing and the variety susceptibility. In this plot, 2002 had twice the rain than 2003 enhancing disease pressure.

36 Fungicide Timing In LSU work, earlier applications of fungicide gave better returns than later applications. GS8 is from flag leaf emergence until fully developed GS10 is just prior to head emergence

37 Wheat Fungicides Applying fungicides when disease is present gave a $38 net return in 2002 and a $17 net return in 2003 Applying the fungicide when the disease first hit gave a better return than waiting. At Feeks 5 apply ½ Rate of Quilt or Stratego. If not available apply ½ Rate of Headline or Quadrus

38 Weather Station for 2005 Projects infestations when weather conditions are right for disease Gives forecast for powdery mildew, septoria, rusts and glume blotch Weather station and wheat disease models started in January 1, 2005 Will give growers an indication for fungicide timing Provided to give TLF growers the most bag for fungicide buck.

39 Wheat Weeds Use Harmony Extra with winter N for control of small henbit, chickweed, german moss 2,4-D or Salvo can reduce yields as much as 15 bu/acre. Wheat at different growth stages in December 2005

40 Spring Wheat Insects Aphids: 300 per linear foot Stink Bugs: yes Armyworms: five per sq. ft. Treat as needed with Pyrethroids

41 Winter and Spring Wheat Summary 35% of yields will be determined this winter and spring Manage fertilizer based on -Yield Potential -Tissue Test -Fall Nitrogen Balance plant food -Make sure you have adequate sulfur and Zn Protect yields -Control Diseases -Control Weeds -Control Insects Harvest in a timely manner. Wheat is mature at 2400 units. Allowing it to remain in the field after it is mature reduces yield every day.

42 Texas Liquid Commitment to you Increase yields Lower Costs Help solve those production problems that limit profitability (unique to each operation and farms within those operations)