A field day, sponsored by the Washington County Oklahoma OSU Extension Center was held on a plot just north of Dewey that had been planted to 11 different varieties of wheat. The land is farmed by Steve and Pam Snelson of Wann who planted the grain for the project.

In addition, Gage Millhon, Nowata County OSU Extension ag educator, put in some nitrogen dykes as part of a test on the amount of nitrogen needed and how to make that determination.

Jeff Edwards, small grains specialist from OSU did a walk-through assisted by Bob Woods, area agronomist, and discussed each variety pointing out any problems: i.e. rust, mildew, bindweed or freeze damage. He discussed the amount of time it took each variety to head and mature, the types of diseases it was either immune or prone to and the expected yield. He also pointed out that the extremes in weather that the area has experienced in the last three years would make a difference in the production, danger of disease, infestation by weeds and the susceptibility to fungus attacks. Rotation and Roundup were recommended for controlling bindweed.

He also discussed the options of following the wheat with either beans or milo and the differences in raising wheat primarily for grain and the practice in some areas, especially the Western part of the state of grazing it before allowing it to head and mature.

The varieties being observed included OK Bullet, Deliver, Duster, Endurance, Jagger, Overley, Centerfield, Jagalene, Santa Fe, Shocker and Doanes.

He said OK Bullett was prone to mildew and rust, but still was a fairly good producer.

Deliver, a beardless variety was recommended for a good test weight and also good for grazing and hay.

Endurance was described as a late variety that had been affected by the freeze, but had no leaf rust this year so far and was low ph tolerant.

Millhon pointed out the area in which he had placed the nitrogen dykes and said tests indicated money could be saved by fertilizing with nitrogen when planting and then checking with a Green Finder in the spring before top dressing. He also said there had been no indication dividing the top dressing into two applications improved performance. He added that after a certain amount addition of N didn’t make any difference.

For more information and details on the experiments and additional tests around the state contact Randy Pirtle at the OSU Extension in Dewey on the wheat, 918-534-2216, and Millhon at the Nowata County office on the nitrogen dykes at 918-273-3345.