Small Grains Production Small grains are grown throughout Mississippi for grain. Wheat is the primary crop, followed by oats. Rye is planted primarily for grazing but occasionally is harvested for grain. Yields of rye are generally poor. Some barley is planted in the state, and again yields are poor, except in the northernmost counties. Barley yields generally decline rapidly the farther south it is planted. Wheat yields in the range of 30 to 50 bushels per acre are common, and yields in the 60- to 80-bushel range may be produced under good management and favorable weather conditions. Oat yields from 70 to 80 bushels per acre are common. Yields of more than 100 bushels per acre have been made under good management and favorable weather conditions. Cold Tolerance The most cold tolerant of the small grains is rye, followed by barley, wheat, and oats. Because of its cold tolerance, wheat is grown throughout Mississippi. In severe winters, wheat may be killed or damaged in the northern half of the state. Oats are subject to winterkill or damage throughout the state. Cold Requirements Winter varieties of small grains require a certain amount of cold weather (less than 40 °F) before the plants will form reproductive structures (seed heads). The period of time varies with variety, but somewhere between 4 and 9 weeks of low temperatures are required. This process is called vernalization. Most of the wheat varieties planted in this state require low temperatures to reproduce; oats do not. In some years, south Mississippi doesn't have enough cold weather for winter wheat, causing little or no seed-head production Land Selection and Preparation Small grains are adapted to soil types throughout the state. Avoid areas such as the wet, poorly drained, heavy soils of the Delta and the wet, bottom areas of the Hill section. Wheat and oats will not tolerate poor drainage conditions and still produce an economical yield. Thin, badly eroded soils also will not produce economical yields and should not be planted to grain. Good seedbed preparation insures a good, fast stand of small grains. Planting into conventionally tilled seedbed with a grain drill will provide a stand at minimum seeding rates. However, many farmers prefer to "rough in" small grains by broadcast sowing-disking. Increase seeding rates if this "rough in" system is selected. Varieties The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) conducts variety trials with wheat and oats. The results, along with additional information about variety tests in other states, are distributed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, and this information is available from your county Extension agent or other Extension specialists. Seeding Rates Base seeding rates upon planting a set number of seeds per foot of row. Use the low rate when planting at the normal times and the upper rates when planting on the late side or when planting conditions are poor. For 7- to 9-inch drill spacings, the normal seeding rate is 18 to 21 seeds per foot of row. Wheat seeds normally have from 12,000 to 16,000 seeds per pound. Normal seeding rates for drill planting vary from 70 to 90 pounds seed per acre, depending upon the variety selected and the planting time used. If seeds are to be broadcast and covered with a disk or field cultivator, then plant 90 to 110 pounds. If aerial seeding is practiced, then apply 125 pounds per acre. Seeding rates per foot for oats, rye, and wheat are similar. Suggested Planting Dates Planting before recommended planting dates does not ensure better yields and sometimes results in increased problems (freeze injury, aphids, Hessian fly, and disease problems). If grazing is not a consideration, planting on the late side of the recommended time usually results in fewer insect and disease problems. Suggested planting dates are as follows: North Mississippi ...... October 1 to November 15 Central Mississippi .... October 15 to November 25 South Mississippi ...... November 1 to December 10 Diseases and Disease Resistance Several diseases may attack wheat and oat plants in Mississippi. Leaf rust, stem rust, and several head diseases are common. Planting resistant varieties to diseases is the most practical and economical control; however, chemical control is recommended for certain diseases. For more specific information, refer to Extension Plant Disease Dispatch M-123. Seed Treatment Proper seed treatment reduces the number of disease-causing organisms on the surface of the seed and the loss due to seedling diseases. Recommended seed treatments are Captan, Vitivax, Terra-Coat, and Baytan 30. These materials are available in various formulations and under several brand names. Apply according to label instructions. Fertilization Apply phosphate and potash according to soil test recommendations. Soils testing high in phosphate and/or potash will not need any additional material. Soils testing medium should receive a maintenance application of 30 to 40 pounds, and soils testing low should receive 60 pounds P205 and K2O per acre. If soybeans are to follow a wheat crop on heavy soils (clays, clay loams, and silt loams), apply phosphate and potash for the soybean crop before planting the wheat. This practice of applying potash in the fall for both crops on sandy soils is questionable. Some potash may be lost through leaching on lighter soil types. Wheat requires about 2 pounds of nitrogen for each bushel of grain it produces. Apply approximately 25 percent of the total nitrogen in the fall. If wheat follows corn or sorghum, increase this amount to compensate for nitrogen tied up by decomposing residue. Apply the remaining nitrogen in the spring after dormancy breaks but before the second node is visible, which generally occurs from mid-February through mid-March. Split applications in the spring often produce better results due to high likelihood of nitrogen loss through denitrification and possibly volatization if conditions are warm and wet. Limit application of liquid UAN solution (32 percent) to around 50 pounds of N per application to prevent excessive leaf burning. Keep soil pH 6.0 or higher. Soil test and lime according to recommendations. Weed Control MSU-ES Publication 1344, Weed Control in Small Grain Crops, provides detailed information for controlling weeds in wheat and oats. You can control wild garlic, dock, and many other broadleaf weeds using the herbicide Harmony Extra or Peak. Use 2,4-D for economical control of wild onion and many broadleaf weeds. Wild garlic and wild onion are not killed with the rates of 2,4-D that can be used and not injure wheat. This treatment normally causes the garlic and onion plants to curl down and reduce the amount of bublets that get into the grain during harvest. Banvel (or dicamba plus 2,4-D) is a good treatment if legumes such as winter peas and vetch are a problem. Ryegrass is best controlled using Hoelon preemergence or early postemergence. Most treatments can be applied postemergence in liquid nitrogen. However, nitrogen rates should be below 60 pounds of nitrogen an acre, and air temperatures should be below 65 °F to reduce the danger of injury to the wheat. Grain Management After Grazing Many producers graze small grains during the fall and winter and then harvest a grain crop in the spring. If maximum grain yields are to be made, you must remove livestock in late February to early March at the time you apply the nitrogen topdressing. At this time, stem elongation and seed head formation begin. Grazing after stem elongation begins may remove the developing seed heads, reducing yields. Harvesting Wheat, oats, and rye will all mature in late May to early June. Most harvesting is in early June. Barley will mature about a week to 2 weeks earlier. If drying facilities are available, harvest grain at 16 to 18 percent moisture and then dry. Harvesting at this moisture content may allow harvest 10 days to 2 weeks earlier than if grain is allowed to dry to 12 to 13 percent moisture in the field. If you doublecrop with soybeans, this can provide significant advantage for bean planting. Revised by Erick J. Larson, Ph.D., Extension Agronomist Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. Information Sheet 961 Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director Copyright by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved. This document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Visit: DAFVM || USDA Search our Site || Need more information about this subject? Last Modified: Wednesday, 12-Sep-07 13:45:45 URL: http://msucares.com/pubs/infosheets/is0961.htm Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.