Planting The 2018 Winter Wheat Crop

Sep 12, 2017

By Martin Nagelkirk

Much of wheat’s yield potential is determined at planting. Attain top yields by having a uniform stand that has time to achieve significant growth before winter dormancy.

Seeding date

Ideally, winter wheat is planted while the soil and air temperatures are still warm to insure the seedling can emerge quickly and uniformly in plenty of time to develop multiple tillers and a strong root system. In fact, beginning in mid- to late September, potential wheat yields tend to slip at least one bushel for every day planting is delayed. This relationship may not hold, however, once the calendar reaches late October as soil and weather conditions tend to play a more important role.

While the Hessian fly no longer poses a significant threat to wheat in Michigan, the fly-free-date is still a useful reference. The fly-free-date is during the first week of September in the northern Lower Peninsula, around mid-September in mid-state areas and approximately the third or fourth week of September for southern Michigan. Highest yields are often attained when seedings are made within two weeks following the posted fly-free-date. When wheat is planted within a few days of the fly-free-date, seeding rates and fall-applied nitrogen rates should be reduced.

Seeding depth

Attaining a consistent seed depth is important because it will increase the probability of even emergence. Usually, a planting depth of 1 to 1.5 inches is sufficient in heavy soil. Deeper seed placement may have an advantage when some types of winter stresses occur, but usually this is outweighed by the advantage in more rapid emergence posed by more shallowly placed seed. Where planting depths of 2 inches or greater may be advantageous is when a coarse soil is very dry. In this case, seed should be planted as deep as possible in order to come in contact with moisture.

Seeding rate

Michigan State University Extension’s recommendation is to plant between 1.4 and 2.2 million seeds per acre. Seeding rates on the lower end of the range should be reserved for fields being planted within a week of the fly-free-date. Using high seeding rates are discouraged when seeding relatively early as it may lead to overly thick stands that tend to lodging as the plant approach maturity.

As the calendar advances, seeding rates should become progressively higher. If planting continues into the second half of October, the seeding rate should be increased to at least 1.8 million seeds per acre. The seeding rates should also be adjusted upward when seed is of questionable quality.

Table 1 identifies the pounds of seed needed based on the number of seeds per pound and your population target. For example, if the seed bag specifies 14,000 seeds per pound and the target seeding rate is 1.8 million seeds per acre, 129 pounds of seed would be needed per acre.

Table 2 is useful for assessing the number of seeds being dropped by each row unit (7.5-inch row spacing) and for evaluating actual emergence.

Table 1. Relating seed size and seeding rates to the amount of seed required per acre
Seed size (seeds/ lb.)	Target seeding rates (millions of seeds per acre)
	1.6	1.7	1.8	1.9	2.0	2.1
	Amount of seed required (lbs./acre)
10,000	160	170	180	190	200	210
11,000	145	155	164	173	182	191
12,000	133	142	150	158	167	175
13,000	123	131	138	146	154	162
14,000	114	121	129	136	143	150
15,000	107	113	120	127	133	140
16,000	100	106	113	119	125	131
17,000	94	100	106	111	118	124
18,000	89	94	100	106	111	117

* Seeds per acre / seeds per lb. = lbs. of seed per acre

Table 2. Relating target seeding rate per acre to seed and seedling numbers (for 7.5-inch row spacing)
Target seeding rate (millions per acre)	Seeds per feet of row¹	Seedlings per feet of row²
1.4	20.1	18.5 (92%)
1.6	23.0	20.7 (90%)
1.8	25.8	22.7 (88%)
2.0	28.7	24.7 (86%)
2.2	31.6	26.5 (84%)

¹ Target seeding rate/ 43560 X 0 .625 = seeds per ft of row (7.5” spacing). Seeds per sq. ft. = target seeding rate/43,560.

² An estimated emergence rate is given in brackets as percent (the rate tends to decline as seed rates increase).

Hessian fly-free-dates for Michigan
County	Sept.	County	Sept.	County	Sept.	County	Sept.
Alcona	6	Eaton	16	Lapeer	15	Ogemaw	10
Allegan	20	Emmett	4	Leelanau	8	Osceola	10
Alpena	9	Genesee	17	Lenawee	25	Oscoda	7
Antrim	4	Gladwin	12	Livingston	16	Otsego	6
Arenac	13	Grand Traverse	8	Macomb	18	Ottawa	19
Barry	18	Gratiot	15	Manistee	13	Presque Isle	8
Bay	14	Hillsdale	19	Mason	13	Roscommon	7
Benzie	16	Huron	13	Mecosta	12	Saginaw	16
Berrien	23	Ingham	17	Midland	15	Sanilac	15
Branch	19	Ionia	16	Missaukee	9	St. Clair	16
Calhoun	19	Iosco	7	Monroe	21	St. Joseph	23
Cass	22	Isabella	11	Montcalm	15	Shiawassee	16
Charlevoix	3	Jackson	16	Montmorency	7	Tuscola	15
Cheboygan	4	Kalamazoo	20	Muskegon	18	Van Buren	22
Clare	12	Kalkaska	5	Newaygo	15	Washtenaw	18
Clinton	17	Kent	18	Oakland	16	Wayne	18
Crawford	6	Lake	13	Oceana	16	Wexford	9

Source: msu.edu

Video: How a Desire to Lead Brought This Wheat Breeder to Canada

Gurcharn Singh Brar is a wheat breeder whose path meandered from the breadbaskets of Punjab, India, to the sprawling fields of the Prairies. In a candid conversation, Brar shared insights into his journey, the challenges faced, and the undying passion that fuels his quest for better crops.

It all began with a childhood rooted in the wheat fields of Punjab, where agriculture isn’t just a livelihood but a way of life. His fascination with wheat and its potential led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences at Punjab Agricultural University. It was during this time that he encountered the spectre of rust diseases, particularly stripe rust, which plagued the region’s wheat crops. Determined to combat this menace, he set his sights on a journey that would take him across continents.

Venturing abroad for his graduate studies, he found himself in Saskatchewan at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), working under the mentorship of renowned researchers like Randy Kutcher and Pierre Hucl. Here, he delved deep into the world of wheat genetics, focusing on stripe rust resistance — a quest that would shape his academic pursuits for years to come.

After completing his master’s and Ph.D. in six and a half years, he embarked on a professional journey that would see him traverse academia and research. From brief stints as a research officer to landing his dream faculty position at the University of British Columbia’s Plant Science program, his career trajectory was marked by a strong drive to make a difference in the world of wheat.

Despite the allure of British Columbia’s unique agricultural landscape, he found himself wanting to return to the vast expanses of the Prairies, where wheat reigns supreme. He recently returned to the Prairies and is the new wheat breeder at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

“The opportunity to lead an established wheat breeding program at the University of Alberta was a dream come true. With the necessary resources and infrastructure in place, I’m excited to drive innovation and develop high-yielding wheat varieties tailored to the unique conditions of northern Canada,” he says.

Brar, one of Seed World Canada‘s 2024 Next-Gen Leaders, has become known for identifying novel sources of resistance to priority diseases and his efforts in developing wheat germplasm with multiple disease-resistant traits.

In addition to his groundbreaking research, Brar is committed to mentoring the next generation of agricultural scientists.

“I believe in nurturing talent and empowering students to pursue their passions,” he says. “Watching my students grow and thrive in their research endeavours is hugely rewarding.”

As he looks ahead, Brar’s vision for the future of wheat breeding is clear: “My number one target is to develop high-yielding wheat varieties adapted to the northern climates of Canada. By focusing on early maturity and strong straw traits, we can maximize yield potential while ensuring resilience to environmental challenges.”

His decision to also join the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye, and Triticale (PGDC) executive as member-at-large came from a desire to play an even more important role in the world of Canadian cereals.