Farm & Home
Ag Line: Damage assessment continues
By Wade Parker
County Extension Coordinator

This past Monday was a lot quieter than last. The phone was not ringing off the hook about freeze damage to crops and gardens. I hope that Mother Nature will never give us the opportunity to witness such devastation again!

While the weekend was full of wind and uncomfortable temperatures, we did not receive any freezing temperatures. However, we are very fortunate that the county did receive ample rainfall. This was the first decent rain in over two months.

As I continue to inspect small grains, corn, and pastures, it is obvious that the cold weather was a major setback to these crops. I do feel the majority of the corn crop will recover, along with the pastures. The small grain recovery status is unknown. The wheat and oat crop damage depends on what stage the plant was in. The majority of the wheat that was in the boot stage appears to be healthy, while the wheat that was fully headed has suffered more injury and is actually turning a bleached color.

What should I do with my small grain crop? Under a normal situation, the rains over the weekend should continue to advance wheat, oats, and rye. However, with the freezing temperatures these crops have experienced, farmers should be paying close attention to see if the plant is developing grain normally. Having said this, there is a major concern that a portion of the pollen may be sterile. If a normal embryo does not start forming after the rains, then chances are the plant is not going to produce. Only time will tell if this situation plays out.

If it is determined that either wheat or oats are not going to produce enough grain for harvest, farmers do have the option to harvest the crop by grazing, cutting for hay, or silage. Curing the forage for hay may be quite difficult, depending on rainfall, soil moisture, and temperatures. Since the stem size of the tillers of small grains that are in boot stage or less mature is relatively small, immature forage will be easier to dry to a moisture that is sufficient for hay (~15% moisture concentration) than crops that are flowering or filling. Such difficulty in curing makes silage production a superior option. One very good option is to make baled silage. Care should be taken to allow sufficient wilt so that moisture of 50-65% (45-50% dry matter) is achieved. This enhances silage stability during both the ensilage and storage phases. Stemmy or more mature small grains should be wrapped with 6 layers of plastic to minimize the effect of any plastic punctures.

Grazing is the least expensive and most efficient harvesting method. However, bloat can occur if animals are turned out on small grains when they are hungry. Ensure that animals grazing small grains have other roughage (e.g., medium quality hay). In addition to reducing the risk of bloat, having roughage available will make the transition to small grains less abrupt and allows rumen microbial populations and the digestive system to adjust. Animals should also have adequate access to an ionophore (for appropriate animal classes) and mineral supplements high in magnesium (Mg).

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