Oklahoma Winter Wheat: Planting Date and Seeding Rate Considerations
Dates for planting and seeding rates have yet to be determined.
Planting date:
For most of Oklahoma, the best time to plant dual-purpose wheat is between September 10 and 20 (roughly day 260 in Figure 1). This represents a trade-off between maximizing forage production and minimizing potential grain yield loss. Grain-only planting should take place at least 2-3 weeks after the ideal planting date.
Seeding rate:
For most areas of Oklahoma, including irrigated fields in the Panhandle, OSU recommends 120 pound seed per acre; increasing seeding rates from 60 to 120 pound per acre can increase fall forage potential by 500 pounds per acre; seeding rates for dryland fields in this type of management can be reduced to 90 pound per acre.
When can you graze winter wheat?
u201cIf you plant earlier, like early September, you might have more growth for fall grazing. If your goal is to only graze it this fall (and not worry about a crop from it next year), it can be drilled any time.
Can cows graze on winter wheat?
Wheat pasture is a common forage for stocker calves in the winter months, but balancing the ration with supplements will allow cattle to meet all of their nutritional needs and better utilize energy. Weather, available forage, and health issues are some of the challenges with putting cattle on wheat pasture.
When should wheat be harvested in Oklahoma?
Winter wheat harvest in Oklahoma typically starts around the end of May and lasts until around July 15. Wheat that will be grazed in a dual-purpose system is planted in late August or early September, allowing enough forage growth on the wheat to begin grazing cattle in November.
How do you care for winter wheat?
In terms of maintenance, don’t forget to water winter wheat during periods of drought; if plants grow quickly enough, you may have to mow them several times. Trim winter wheat with a string trimmer or scythe in small planting areas. Till winter wheat into the soil before plants set seed in the spring.
How tall should wheat be before grazing?
Cattle should not be able to pull the plants out of the ground while grazing, and there should be 6 to 12 inches of top growth before pasturing wheat, but the true test of when the wheat is ready is to see if the crown roots have developed to the point where the wheat is difficult to pull out of the ground.
When can you turn cows out on wheat?
When it comes to turning cattle out on wheat, a good rule of thumb is to wait six weeks after emergence; for example, if you plant wheat on Sept. 20, the pasture should be ready for cattle by Nov. 1.
How many cows can you have per acre?
You may have heard that it takes 1.5 to 2 acres to feed a cow calf pair for a year, which means we should be able to have 10 to 13 cows. Let’s see how this rule-of-thumb holds up, with 11 cows on 20 acres equaling 1.8 acres per cow.
How many acres do you need for two cows?
A cow-calf pair would require 1.5 to 2 acres to feed for a year, which means you’d need about three cow-calf pairs on a five-acre plot. Keep in mind that the daily utilization rate for livestock is 4% (0.04), which is always the same.
Is wheat good for cattle grazing?
Wheat forage is palatable, high in protein, energy, and minerals, and low in fiber, making it a good feed for cattle and sheep. However, the high moisture content of wheat forage can make meeting the daily dry matter needs of grazing livestock difficult at times.
Are they cutting wheat in Oklahoma?
The 2021 wheat harvest has begun in Oklahoma, amidst cooler temperatures and heavy moisture. Several locations in Southwest Oklahoma have reported a successful weekend for grain receiving.
What type of wheat is grown in Oklahoma?
The most common type of wheat grown in Oklahoma is hard red winter wheat, which thrives in our climate and in states like Kansas, Colorado, and Texas.
Where is winter wheat grown in Oklahoma?
The Panhandle’s Texas County was the nation’s most productive winter wheat county in 1921, 1926, 1928, and 1929, and the regional distribution of wheat cultivation in Oklahoma has persisted, with the north-central, southwest, west-central, and Panhandle regions leading in acreage, yields, and production.
Is it illegal to grow wheat at home?
Commercial wheat operations, which rely heavily on commercial pesticides and fertilizers for production, are often very traumatic to otherwise fertile land, making it illegal to grow wheat at home.
Does winter wheat grow back every year?
Winter wheat (usually Triticum aestivum) are wheat strains that are planted in the fall to germinate and develop into young plants that remain in the vegetative phase during the winter and resume growth in the early spring, yielding more than spring wheat.
Do Whitetails like winter wheat?
Winter wheat is an excellent cool-season forage for white-tailed deer because it contains more than 20% crude protein and contains less than 25% acid detergent fiber, making it highly digestible.