Tips for achieving high yields in late drilled wheat

Winter wheat is still an option for many to consider between now and January. However, it is always advisable to make sure you are aware of the latest sowing date which is safe for your specific variety before considering spring crops as an alternative.

For spring crops, fast crop establishment is vital. However, conditions can be less than favourable and can rapidly change during this time of year, so to get the best from your crop, this is something that you will need to pay careful attention to.

Soil must be in an optimum condition to drill. Drilling at an even depth is important. Drilling late when temperatures are lower will slow down establishment, which in turn may place greater emphasis on effective slug control. Good seed contact with the soil is vital for ensuring successful early crop growth. Therefore, if the conditions aren’t right avoid drilling it until spring.

If the soil is fit over the winter, it is fine to drill but remember to disturb as little soil as possible, as this will reduce the risk of stirring the blackgrass present.

The suggested drill depth is 3-4cm so the seed is deep enough to avoid residual chemistry, but not too deep that it deters the crop from emerging rapidly.

When sowing late, selecting the right variety is an important factor to consider.

KWS Siskin looks particularly well suited to late drilling conditions. However, if you are looking for a feed wheat option for late drilling KWS Crispin stands out within the market.

Deter seed treatment is an option and protects against slug hollowing and BYDV. Manganese or Phosphite dressings are another option, encouraging early rooting. The recently introduced Vibrance Duo is particularly well suited to later sown wheat as it helps with speed of establishment, though a single purpose dressing is often used.

It is extremely important to adjust to conditions on the day. As we progress into the late drilling window, the percentage of seeds which germinate declines. Establishment decreases from over 70% when sown by start of October, then by approximately 5% per fortnight, to less than 50% in December.

For cost effective broad-leaved weed and annual meadow grass control it is usually advised to apply a pre-emergence herbicide. There may be little chance to make peri or post emergence applications due to ground conditions. Often if it is fit to drill it is usually fit to spray.

Crops should be monitored for slug damage. As previously mentioned, Deter seed treatment will reduce the risk of seed hollowing by slugs, but it does little to limit their grazing at the soil surface. If an application of slug pellets is considered to be necessary, consider the options available. If pellets containing metaldehyde are used, stewardship guidelines should be followed which limit the amount of the active ingredient applied; also metaldehyde-based slug pellets should not be allowed to fall within 10m of a field boundary. These restrictions do not apply to pellets containing ferric phosphate.

Feeding crops is vital to keep late-drilled wheat going through the winter months. It is important that your N, P and K are all being applied correctly, efficiently and sustainably and most importantly at the right balance that your land requires. It is key to be aware of the overall nutritional picture of each field.

To understand what you’re working with, soil sampling should be common place on-farm to ensure pH, N, P and K levels aren’t hampering plant growth and development. The balance of these key nutrients is very important. For example, Nitrogen (N) helps with plant growth, driving production and improving the quality of forage crops, while Phosphate (P) encourages root growth, establishment and development, and Potash (K) helps with protein production to maintain healthy plant cells.

It is recommended to soil sample your fields every 3-4 years. Following this, an effective fertiliser plan should be implemented to manage N, P and K requirements. Our team of Wynnstay agronomists and specialists work with you to create bespoke crop nutrition plans to ensure that you are achieving maximum crop margins.

An application of the plant growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl (e.g. Moddus) early in the spring can help to improve tiller retention, promote rooting and help to prevent lodging.

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