Cold soil temperatures have limited tiller development this spring. Plants have the opportunity to produce additional tillers until the day length reaches about 14-15 hours of light per day and temperatures get much warmer. Unfortunately, continued cold weather will delay the heading date of the crop and may limit the grain filling period resulting in less yield potential. Wheat producers should begin to assess their fields as regrowth begins. Frost heaving has been a problem in some areas, especially shallow planted fields with high clay content and water drainage problems.
Plants developing from seed planted too shallow are particularly prone to frost heaving.
Frost heaved plants have their crowns pushed out of the ground exposing the base of the crown and roots. These plants will likely die as the soil dries and the plants attempt to regrow. There are also some fields with water-damaged areas that should be assessed for plant regrowth. Examine the plants by digging them up and separating the individual tillers. The crowns at the base of the tillers should be firm and white in color.