DON’T CALL ME AN EXPERT  This is just the way I do things

Growing Winter Wheat on the Northern Plains

 By Hugh Hunt

Interest in winter wheat production has begun to pick up in the Northern Plains.  Winter wheat in Minnesota has normally been considered a cover crop for marginal land with minimal inputs applied. A few years ago I attended a crop workshop in Manitoba and listened to an agronomist talk about winter wheat production. That meeting opened my eyes to the possibilities of winter wheat working on my farm. In the past six years I have averaged approximately a 50% yield increase over spring wheat.  Higher production and income per acre are not the only reasons to consider winter wheat production.  Winter wheat also spreads out the seeding and combining work load (shortens that July vacation), competes better with weeds and does much better in wet conditions than either wheat or barley.  Winter wheat is a more resilient plant because of its ability to tiller profusely; it is not uncommon to have 10 to 12 tillers. Because of the huge root mass, the plant is more resilient.

This does not mean winter wheat production is easy.  There are some essentials to success that must be followed or you will not be happy with your results.

The number one essential is to plant no-till into the stubble of a preceding broadleaf crop to catch snow.  Winter wheat in the Northern Plains needs an insulating blanket of snow to protect it from winter kill during the coldest months of January and February.  I have found canola to be the perfect rotation crop for winter wheat.  Canola leaves a nice stubble to catch snow, is harvested early enough for good establishment and is easy to seed into with a hoe drill or a no-till drill.

 The next essential is to choose a variety that is winter hardy enough for your location.  I prefer to look at varieties that have been developed either north or west of my location as they will probably be more winter hardy.

Once you have a variety picked out, seed it early enough for good establishment. It is best to have at least three leaves on the plants to ensure development of a strong enough crown that will carry the plant through the winter.  In my area of northern Minnesota that means a planting date between August 25 and September 15. 

The next consideration is to seed shallow regardless of moisture.  For best winter survival and emergence, it is best to seed about 1” deep. To achieve high yields, I push populations and seed at least 1.5 million seeds per acre. 

You then need to fertilize for that potential. I apply phosphate when I seed to enhance root growth and spread urea in the spring to cover my nitrogen needs (Fertilizing with nitrogen in the fall weakens the crown by putting on more top growth, making the plant more susceptible to winter injury).  The next spring, you should have a crop that greens up quickly and competes well with weeds.

A thick lush canopy is also a breeding ground for disease so fungicide is essential to achieve high yields.  In high rainfall years, I have used two applications of fungicide to control leaf diseases and fusarium. When harvest is approaching, do not be tempted to start swathing. Winter wheat will sprout quite easily in a heavy swath so it is best left to straight cut.

With this approach to production, I have found winter wheat to be a consistent crop. It is just important to remember that it does not work out all the time if you don’t do it right. Winter wheat needs to be planted early, no-tilled into stubble of a broadleaf crop and needs to be managed for high yields.  On my farm winter wheat has proven to be a profitable and successful addition to my rotation. 

Hugh Hunt farms near Hallock, Minnesota, just miles from the Canadian border. He is a certified crop advisor and owner of Hunt Seed Company.  He can be reached at hhunt@wiktel.com.