COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to USDA NASS, Ohio farmers had planted 38% of the state’s wheat crop by the week ending Oct. 18. As planting delays continue, farmers should increase seeding rates to approximately 1.6 to 2.0 million seeds per acre to help offset reduced tillering potential.
Historically, wheat planted 28 days after the Hessian fly-free date (roughly third week of October in northwest Ohio) was thought to yield approximately 23% less compared to wheat planted around the fly-free date (Figure 1, green line). Wheat planted 42 days after the fly-free date (roughly the first week of November in northwest Ohio) was thought to yield approximately 75% less compared to wheat planted around the fly-free date.
These historical projections originated from a wheat planting date study in Wooster, Ohio, conducted between 1969-1975. With funding from Ohio Corn and Wheat, we’ve re-evaluated wheat planting dates over the past four growing seasons, with planting dates ranging from Sept. 13 through Nov. 10. Planting wheat within two weeks after the county fly-free date generally resulted in the highest and most consistent grain yield. In some years, we’ve planted wheat four weeks after the ...