The Sidney herald., 1963-09-11
When Should I Plant Winter
Wheat?

w
It is generally recommended
that Winter Wheat be planted
from September 5th to 18th. |
You may seed earlier or later
than this suggested date and
establish good stands of Win
ter Wheat. However, there are
reasons for this suggested seed
ing dates. For instance warm
weather ageter seeding, the re-
suit of early seeding, can in
fluenlce the growth of Root
Rot Fungus and easily infect
your winter wheat stand.
There was evidence of root
rot in this years winter wheat
crop. Perhaps this was the re-
suit of early seeding and the
warm temperature last fall.
To prevent root rot damage in
winter wheat observe the fol-
lowing guide lines:
l. Use fertilizer to establish
a healthy vigorous plant.
2. Plant on good clean sum-,
merfallow to reduce weed
competition.
3. Don't plant too early to
prevent warm soil tempera-
lures after seeding. Another
reason for not seeding too
early is Wheat Streak Mosaic,
a virus disease of Winter
Wheat. Although this disease
was not serious in Richland
County this year the tiny mites
that transmit this disease were
present on Wheat plants in
this area.
To avoid serious outbreaks
of wheat streak mosaic, elm
mate volunteer wheat in stub
BILE which sprouted after har-
vest and on sunmerfallow.
This virus disease was found
in many areas of Montana this
spring and was particularly
severe near Geraldine and Ba-
ker. The Montana State Col
lege pathologists warn that the
disease may return this fall
if control measures are not
adopted now.
Wheat streak mosaic can be
effectively controlled by elm
mating volunteer wheat which
arose near the time of harvest.
This volunteer wheat is usually
the result of wheat shattered
by hail before harvest or from
adequate moisture shortly af-
ter harvest. This situation is
particularly true in Richland
County.
Volunteer wheat serves as
an excellent host for the tiny
mites which carry wheat
streak mosaic virus and thus
becomes a stepping stone be-
tween the old and new crops
of winter wheat. If newly
seeded winter wheat emerges
near infected volunteer wheat
a serious outbreak of the viru:
disease is likely to follow. Fal
infections of winter wheat re-
suit in extensive winter killing
and severe reductions in yield
AS far as is known the mites
which carry the virus do MOI
overwinter ON grasses.
The MISC plant pathologistS
recommend that volunteer
wheat summerfallow and along
roadsides, as we'll as greer
wheat plants in spring wheat
stubble be plowed down a
least ten days before seeding
winter wheat. This amount o.
time is needed in order t.
starve any mites emerging
from eggs on the plowed vol
unteer wheat.
Planting winter wheat a
: late as possible, consistent witt
good agronomic practices, will
! also aid in controlling this dis
ease.
Because of both Rot Root (
> Wheat Streak Mosaic seriou
6 consideration should be give
to recommended seeding date:
a Growing Boy and Food
r It's hard enough to keep
? p growing boy in clothes, bu
:, look at the way he eats!
Using a moderate-cost foo
plan for good nutrition, u
Department of AgricultuH
economists figure it costs abol
81 a week to feed an infan
II But, by the time the child
: ready for school-aIbout 3 {
e 6 years old-he's gobbhng u
! $3.50 worth of food each weel
d And the cost of food to NEE
! his needs grow right alon
?. with the youngster, accordin
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