Options And Management Strategies For Freeze-Damaged Wheat

Producers whose wheat has suffered severe freeze damage have some difficult decisions to make. The most difficult is whether to keep the crop or destroy it. There’s no sure answer to that, unless it is obvious that the crop is almost completely damaged and not coming back strongly enough to produce more than a minimal yield. In most cases, there is still plenty of time before the crop has to be destroyed in order to plant grain sorghum, soybeans, or if plans are to plant wheat again this fall. But if the crop is obviously lost, it should be killed as soon as possible anyway, keeping crop insurance considerations in mind. As long as it is still at least partially alive, the freeze-damaged crop will take up soil moisture and nutrients needed for the following crop.

Producers who have forward contracted much of their anticipated production will probably want to wait longer if there is any doubt about whether the crop will recover and produce at least 20 bushels per acre.

If producers do plan to give up on their wheat crop, there are several possible options for managing the field, depending on circumstances. There are some basic questions to ask before deciding on what to do.

Basic questions to ask

I. Was a long-residual sulfonylurea herbicide used on the wheat crop?

YES. Options are limited. Producers must check the product labels for rotational restrictions.

Depending on label restrictions, producers could: a. Cut the failed wheat for forage or graze it out, then recrop to:  

• STS soybean
• Grain sorghum (mid-June or later)
• Wheat this fall

Spray with glyphosate, or till it under, then recrop to STS soybeans. Spray with a mixture of glyphosate and atrazine, or till it under, then plant sorghum in midJune or later.

NO. More options are available.

• Cut the failed wheat for forage or graze it out, then recrop to any row crop or plant back to wheat in the fall.
• Spray with glyphosate or till it under, then recrop to soybeans at any time.
• Spray with a mixture of glyphosate-and-atrazine or till it under, then plant corn or sorghum at any time.

A couple of additional comments: The wheat should be tested for nitrate levels before cutting for forage or grazing. Tilling the wheat under could cause erosion problems, and may be restricted by farm program compliance requirements.