Triticale Harvest Time!

Now is the time to check the growth stage of your winter triticale.  Many fields will be ready to harvest this week. Triticale should be harvested at Feekes stage 9 for optimal quality. At stage 8 the flag leaf is just emerging from the top of the plant. At Feekes 9, the collar of the flag leaf is visible.

Picture: Growth stage 9 on the left. Note leaf collar on the flag leaf is visible and pushed out of the boot. Stage 8 on the right. Flag leaf collar is not visible and still down in the boot. Stage 8 We have a short video showing the optimal time for triticale harvest and how to determine Feekes stage 9,

Cereal Leaf Beetles are Active in Wheat

Cereal leaf beetles (CLB) have emerged from their overwintering spots and are becoming active in wheat fields. I had a picture sent to me of a mating pair so egg laying is not far behind. There are no thresholds for adults in small grains. We will talk about scouting for eggs and larvae next week. Oats are the favored food source for CLB but many oats were delayed and so wheat is what’s out there for them right now. I did see some oats out of the ground this week. The May 7 USDA NASS report for NY estimated that only 48% of the oats had been planted and 14% emerged.

Winter Wheat Update

All of the wheat I looked at this week was at Feekes Stage 6 or higher. With the great weather it won’t be long before the flag leaf is peeking out (Feekes 8). Hope you all have that last shot of nitrogen sprayed! There is still some time to get that Harmony Extra or Palisade (growth regulator) applied. I have seen some really good wheat out there. Granted there are some spots that drowned out too. On May 7, USDA NASS NY rated the wheat crop as 4% very poor, 5% poor, 30% fair, 25% good and 36% excellent.

Pheromone Trap Update

Black cutworm and armyworm trap catches were low this week. With the large flights of cutworm moths coming into NY last week, we have started to keep track of accumulated degree days around the 9-county region moving forward. This is important so we can estimate when eggs will hatch and when larvae will be large enough to start damaging corn plants.

• Egg hatch around 90 Degree Days
• Plant cutting around 300 Degree Days
• Degree Day data from Network for Environment and Weather Applications, NEWA

Summary of Alfalfa Height and Prediction of % NDF- May 10, 2023

Height indicators of alfalfa and grass for NDF content are below:

• In general, we say 100% grass stands should be cut when nearby alfalfa is 14 inches tall to achieve the desired 50% NDF.
• Begin cutting 50/50 mixed alfalfa and grass stands when nearby alfalfa is 22 inches tall for the desired 44% NDF.
• Begin cutting 100% alfalfa stands when alfalfa is 28 inches tall for desired 40% NDF.

In the below table locations around the region are listed where we have measured alfalfa height. You can use the location and elevation as a guide to conditions that may be similar to your farm.

As of today, May 10, 2022 alfalfa heights varied between 14-18 inches across locations. Ahead from last year, farms should be out harvesting grasses now and begin harvesting mixed stands next week May 15^th followed by pure alfalfa the week of May 22^nd.

Numerous variables influence the quality of first cutting, including:

• Age of stand
• Variety
• Soil fertility
• Pest
• Weather
• Last seasons’ cutting schedule
• Last fall’s harvest date

The majority of these variables are specific to each farm and field within a farm. Lab averages of scissor clippings provide little guidance for determining when to begin harvesting on an individual farm.

Data source: Dairyland Laboratories, Inc.  click here.

It is up to you to get out into your fields scout, sample, and determine the physiological maturity of your crop and plan your dynamic harvest schedule accordingly.

Next report will be May 18.