If you're thinking that the fall of 2002 might be the year for seeding some winter cereals, then the time to begin planning for that seeding operation is now. It takes a little organization to be ready for fall seeding.
Which field are you planning to seed to winter wheat? That should be the first question you ask yourself. To ensure that the crop survives the winter, the field has to have some standing stubble. The Snow Trap Potential Index, developed by Dr. Brian Fowler of the Crop Development Centre in Saskatoon, is a useful tool to use in determining the suitability of the stubble for seeding winter wheat. Measure the height of the stems (cm) multiply that by the number of stems per m2 and divide by 100. If the answer is greater than 40, there is sufficient stubble for the winter wheat. Less than 40 and the potential for trapping snow to protect the little winter wheat seedlings is uncertain. A number of the fields I visited in the fall of 2001 had winter wheat seeded into canola stubble. Cereal stubbles also work well for winter wheat. Pea stubble does not usually meet the +40 index so is not a good choice. Bare summerfallow should not even be considered.
If a spring wheat field is where the winter wheat will be seeded, there must be 7 to 10 days between harvesting the spring crop and planting the winter one. That length of time ensures the death of the mite that carries the Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus, a serious pest of winter wheat.
How much of a "window" will you have for seeding? Timeliness of seeding is the next factor to consider. The general rule of thumb is that winter wheat should be seeded between August 25 and September 10. At the SSCA Annual Conference in February, Ducks Unlimited Canada, together with Sask Power, released the new Weatherman-ager. It's a management tool that provides 53 years of weather records and has been developed to predict the probability of crops reaching maturity based on different seeding dates. So, if you've seeded oats on the 10th of May, you can get an idea of what the likelihood will be of having them off and in the bin in time to seed the winter wheat.
Will the seeding equipment be ready for seeding about the time harvest is gearing up? You will need to have the seeding equipment ready to roll by the end of August or you're going to be taking time away from greasing the combine to get the seeder ready. Another factor to consider is whether you can direct seed with your own equipment or will you have to borrow or lease some equipment? Those arrangements need to be made well in advance.
Does your regular seed supplier have winter wheat seed? Check your Seed Grower Guide for sources of seed. Some of the newer varieties are very popular so you will want to book your seed well in advance of seeding.
How will you fertilize the crop? Will all the fertilizer be applied at the time of seeding? Or will it be broadcast the following spring? Do you have enough trucks available to haul fertilizer while seeding the winter wheat when you may also be hauling grain from the field? Solving the logistics problems before the seeding and harvest operations begin will save a lot of stress!
And finally, if the soil is dry, will you seed? The previously mentioned seeding window is critical for successful establishment. If conditions are dry, don't wait for moisture to seed. We usually receive some moisture in the fall and it doesn't take much to germinate the winter wheat and get it growing. You have to be prepared to get the winter wheat into the ground in the seeding window. Waiting for moisture increases the risk of a poor stand.
There are many agronomic and economic advantages to growing winter cereals, as evidenced by the increasing number of producers growing the crops successfully. These are the folks who have figured out well ahead of seeding how they are going to get that seed in the ground.