Yields of wheat averaged 44 bushels per acre, down 4 bushels from 1996. Wheat prices decreased as a result of continued world grain production. Barley yellow dwarf, an aphid vectored virus, continues to increase in importance in some areas of Georgia. Populations were somewhat lower than 1996, but still of significant importance. As a result, aphids have become the primary insect pest problem associated with small grains.
Hessian fly continues to be a problem in some fields planted to the older wheat varieties.
Cereal leaf beetle continues to increase in importance in the northern part of Georgia. Units Treated No. of Unit Applic. 2 Yield units measured in bushels. These estimates were derived from 400,000 acres of wheat.