For growers who are thinking about planting spring cereal crops now s the time, said Kansas State University agronomist Jim Shroyer. The prospect may be especially attractive to those wheat growers who have poor stands and limited growth resulting from last year s drought. Spring oats, barley and wheat should be planted in mid-February to early March for best results, he added.
Barley works well in northern and northwest Kansas and makes better silage than hay.
Oats can work as silage or hay and can be grown throughout the state, he said. With forage and hay supplies cut by last year s hot, dry weather, now is particularly a good time to consider spring cereals as a supplement for livestock. To plant the spring cereal, I would no-till into any residue without disturbing the soil and use 40 pounds nitrogen maximum to keep costs down. Where spring cereal crops are planted into failed wheat fields, it s important to remember that the resulting crop be it oats, spring wheat or barley will have winter wheat mixed in. For that reason it should be used only for livestock feed or forage rather than going into the market chain, Shroyer said.