For The Would-Be Winter Wheat Grower - Not All Is Lost!

Although this fall’s wet weather has prevented many would-be winter wheat growers from planting wheat this fall, not all is lost! For many growers there are several spring cereal options that can still be economical for the cereal-part of your crop rotation.

Cereal Options

Growers have had success with spring wheat, oats and barley. There are many marketing options available for these spring cereal crops. Similar to winter wheat, there are many marketing programs for spring wheat, either through the Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board, Palmerston Grain or WG Thompson’s. There are also premium price markets for oats for milling and the horse market. The premium barley market is malting and pearled barley. Parrish & Heimbecker offer malt barley contracts. As in the wheat market, there are quality requirements. Talk to your local elevator or check out the Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board and the Oat and Barley Council of Ontario websites about market prices and options.

Plant Early!

Success depends on variety selection, early planting and grower management throughout the growing and harvesting season to produce a quality product. Spring wheat is priced higher than winter wheats, and if seeded early can give comparable returns to winter wheat for many growers. To achieve early planting, many growers have had good success at frost seeding spring wheat and oats. Barley does not respond as well to frost seeding on medium to heavier soils due to wet feet syndrome.

Variety Selection

There are a few new spring wheat varieties with higher yield potential. In area II and IV, varieties like Sable and Hobson look good. In Area III (eastern Ontario) Brookfield and Hobson have done well. Most of the new oat varieties were bred to have high test weight and protein, as well as superior yields. There are specific barley ‘malt’ varieties. The 2007 “Performance Trials For Spring Cereal Crops” will be available the end of November and can be accessed on the OMAFRA website or 1-877-424-1300. Choosing the right variety is one of the most important management factors that impact on the spring cereal returns.

Related Links:

• Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board
• Oat & Barley Council of Ontario

| Top of Page |