They say that April showers bring May flowers. The question on everybody’s mind right now is what do April ice storms bring? This year, for three weeks in a row, this region has experienced temperatures well below freezing with ice and snow adding to the problems. After two severe drought years the good news is we finally are receiving some moisture. The wheat fields may be growing slow, and look promising as of now, but how much more of Mother Nature’s changing moods can it handle?
One thing that I have seen in all of my research is that wheat in the early growing stages is very resilient. If wheat was at jointing, then temperatures would have to fall to 24 for at least a two hour period for injury to occur. The wheat in Barton county was beginning to joint, but with the below average temperatures this spring, it is far behind what it would have been in previous years. This means that even if portions of the wheat plant were damaged, it should be able to still produce a crop with only minor loss of yield. The accompanying moisture also has an effect on the wheat. Most of the time, if the ground and plants are wet it will create an insulating effect on the wheat and keep the damage minimal. The biggest risk at this point is if the ice forms inside the plant and either damage the plant internally, or splits the stem. Serious damage can occur at this point, and yield will be lost. In Barton County it seems that the moisture has helped keep the damage to a minimum so far, but time will tell. It can take several weeks before we see the full effects of the past month’s unusual weather pattern.
Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Barton County K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910