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2004 Wheat Seeding Rates
| Name | Alfred B. Crouch, Jr. | | Situation | Newberry County wheat producers typically plant bags per acre when selecting seeding rates. Seeding rates chosen this way often result in final plant populations that are either too thick or too thin, both resulting in reduced yield and profitability. For the 2003 wheat crop, I
persuaded one Newberry County producer to allow me to select his seeding rate based on seed per foot of row, rather than planting bags per acre.
| | Response | The first step in the process was to decide what seeding rate to use. I
consulted Dr. Jay Chapin’s Wheat Cheat Sheet, and selected 22 seed per row foot. I then adapted a mathematical formula to convert seed per foot into pounds per acre, based on seed per pound, into an excel spreadsheet. I took a copy of the excel spreadsheet out to the farm, and using the producer’s laptop, calculated the seeding rates for the five wheat varieties he planned to plant. The producer then proceeded to plant his 2004 wheat crop. After the wheat emerged, we checked seeding rates on all five varieties. The seed per foot of row was in range for all five varieties. The seeding rates used were less than typically planted at the farm, and yield potential in all the wheat fields appears exceptional. I have conducted random stems per square foot counts, and we seem to be in line with current Extension recommendations.
| | Impact | The results of the seeding rate exercise appear as of now to be successful. We have reduced seed costs while maintaining yield potential on the producer’s small grain crop. Barring any major weather problems between now and June, the true success of this exercise should be evident by harvest. I have distributed the excel spreadsheet to other Newberry County wheat producers. |
Last update8/15/2007
This website is maintained by Bryan Smith.
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