Tag: flowering

Wheat Quality: Late Season Alpha-Amylase

Robert Kratochvil, Extension Agronomist, University of Maryland

I have heard reports that the first wheat harvested on the Delmarva this year is having falling numbers ranging between 160 and 320s.  The falling number measurement is used by the industry to assess the amount of starch (flour) damage that has occurred due to pre-harvest sprouting.  When falling number is below 275s, the quality of the flour milled from the wheat may not be suitable for some of the end-use products made with it. Continue reading Wheat Quality: Late Season Alpha-Amylase

FHB Update – May 16, 2017

Nathan Kleczewski, Extension Field Crop Plant Pathologist, University of Delaware

We are through flowering in Delaware and Maryland wheat. Growers should assess wheat for FHB severity approximately 18-24 days after flowering or fungicide application. Check one transect per 1-2 acres of field. At each transect, pick 25 heads without looking at the field. Mark the number of heads with FHB out of the total heads collected (FHB incidence). Fields with high levels of FHB incidence should be harvested with increased fan speeds to remove tombstones and grain stored separately from that harvested from cleaner fields. If possible, harvest fields early and dry to at least 15% moisture to prevent continued growth of the FHB fungus and potential mycotoxin production.