Harvesting Wheat

All Harvesting Wheat Content

Two diseased wheat plants side-by-side. The wheat heads on the left have ergot bodies throughout. The wheat plants on the right are infected with Fusarium head blight.

Assess Your Fields for Ergot and Fusarium Head Blight Before Harvest

The 2019 wheat harvest is well underway in South Dakota, with many acres of winter and much of the spring wheat crop left to harvest. To date, reports on yield and quality have been variable, depending on when the crop was seeded, weather conditions at important growth stages (such as flowering and grain fill) and disease pressure throughout the season.

An empty grain bin full-air floor is plugged by insect webbing.

Stored Grain Pests: Spring Insect and Disease Issues

Grain storage is a key component in getting your crop to market. Aside from watching bins for spoilage, moisture, and temperature changes, make sure you are looking for signs of pest infestation.

Three grain bins on the edge of a snow-covered field.

Forecasted Cold Temperatures Can Be Used To Cool Down Stored Grain

If temperatures are forecasted as being well below freezing, it would probably be a good time to start thinking about cooling stored grain. Cooling grain reduces the activity of stored grain insect pests and suppresses any mold growth that may otherwise occur.

Several wrapped bales of hay lined up near a barn.

Round Bale Storage Conservation

Fact sheet discussing conservation of round bale storage.

sun rising over a cornfield. several grain bins are in the background.

Marketing Mindset Change

Marketing for profit may not seem new to producers, but the way they look at their marketing plans should be.

A field of green winter wheat.

Planning for Quality in Wheat

Excess moisture and limited field days have made it difficult for producers to add nitrogen to wheat fields this year. This could be a concern, as nitrogen contributes to both yield and protein. This year, it may pay off to take tissue and soil tests from questionable wheat fields to help with nitrogen application decisions.

Green and yellow grasshopper resting on a head of wheat.

Grasshoppers Are Causing Concerns in Close-to-Harvest Winter Wheat

During the end of last week, we received reports of grasshoppers feeding on winter wheat that was close to being ready to harvest. One of the questions with the report was, “What insecticide can be sprayed that won’t delay harvest?”

A green combine dumps soybean grain into a green wagon at dusk in South Dakota.

A Safe Harvest

Personal safety can be easier said than done when running on little sleep and working through the thick of harvest. Learn some important safety tips to keep you and your operation safe during this busy time of the year.

harvester chopping corn silage, depositing silage into green wagon.

Video Series Offers Tips on Harvesting Failed Crops as Forage

August 24, 2021

To help producers navigate through these issues, SDSU Extension and the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition have recently released a new video series, “Salvaging Drought Stressed Crops.”

Winter wheat test plots with numerous groups of green wheat plants growing throughout.

2021 Draper Winter Wheat Meeting Set for Aug. 26

August 13, 2021

The Jones County Crop Improvement Association, along with South Dakota State University Extension will be hosting the 32nd annual Winter Wheat Meeting in Draper, South Dakota on Aug. 26.