The wheat is growing quickly, despite the challenges this year. We have had several frost and freeze events that caused damage in some fields. Wheat Streak Mosaic has also been reported more often that in the past several years. To top that off, after a very dry winter, where an ice storm was our only source of significant moisture, we have had a very wet spring, causing some fields to suffer from too much moisture. For the most part though, our wheat still looks good, and has some strong potential.
On May 30, at 5:30 p.m. the Barton County Extension office will be having a wheat plot tour out at the site. Romulo Lollato, K-State Research and Extension’s wheat specialist will be on hand to talk about the individual varieties which were planted, and how they are producing in our area. Romulo will also discuss the different situations and stressors for this year. Lucas Haag, KSRE northeast area agronomist, along with Eric DeWolf and Doug Jardine, KSRE plant pathologists, will also be on hand to discuss how the wheat fared with the problems that happened in their areas of knowledge as well.
Dorivar Ruiz-Diaz, nutrient management specialist for KSRE, has been working on a research project alongside the wheat plot that he will be discussing during the tour. The project is evaluating sensors for nitrogen management including the hand-held NDVI meters as well as UAV’s (drones). Ruiz-Diaz, along with his team of grad students, will be there to discuss the project and answer questions about the research and how it compares to other systems of nitrogen recommendations.
The plot is located south of Galatia, from intersection NW 190 RD and NW 100 AVE smidge over 1/2 mile. The legal description of the field is SW 1/4 26-16-15.
Everyone is invited to attend. We ask you to call and RSVP to the Extension office at 620-793-1910 no later than Thursday, May 25, for a dinner count which is sponsored by American Ag Credit. Our appreciation goes to American Ag Credit for helping Barton County Extension provide a meal after the tour.
Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Barton County K-state Research and Extension. Contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.
