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Meeting the Second Wheat Challenge
Can second wheat be grown profitably with the recent hike in input costs? A recent survey of CPM readers suggests that it can.
Original Article by Rob Jones, first published in CPM Magazine, June 2009
Second wheat growers across the country appear to be rising to the challenge of managing the crop with a range of specific husbandry practices –– which they intend to develop further next season.
That’s one of the findings of a survey of CPM readers, conducted in March, which drew responses from more than 230 growers –– collectively responsible for around 88,000ha of cropping. The survey participants have a total of just over 38,000ha of wheat in the ground this season –– 15,000ha (39%) of which is second wheat.
The overwhelming majority (95%) are growing second, as well as first wheat, this year. And while slightly fewer participants are intending to grow wheat next season, a slight increase in the total area of second wheat is planned within a virtually static overall wheat area. This will lead the proportion of second wheat grown to increase to around 41%.
The study shows a typical yield gap of 1-1.5t/ha between first and second wheat –– primarily attributed to take-all. Just under 40% of growers see a lower-than-average second wheat yield gap as being indicative of a lower take-all impact, while 25% noted a higher-than-average yield gap and more impact from the disease (see figure 1).
Figure 1: By how much do your first wheats generally out-yield your second wheats?
Second wheat growers across the country appear to be rising to the challenge of managing the crop with a range of specific husbandry practices –– which they intend to develop further next season.
That’s one of the findings of a survey of CPM readers, conducted in March, which drew responses from more than 230 growers –– collectively responsible for around 88,000ha of cropping. The survey participants have a total of just over 38,000ha of wheat in the ground this season –– 15,000ha (39%) of which is second wheat.
The overwhelming majority (95%) are growing second, as well as first wheat, this year. And while slightly fewer participants are intending to grow wheat next season, a slight increase in the total area of second wheat is planned within a virtually static overall wheat area. This will lead the proportion of second wheat grown to increase to around 41%.
The study shows a typical yield gap of 1-1.5t/ha between first and second wheat –– primarily attributed to take-all. Just under 40% of growers see a lower-than-average second wheat yield gap as being indicative of a lower take-all impact, while 25% noted a higher-than-average yield gap and more impact from the disease (see figure 1).
Figure 1: By how much do your first wheats generally out-yield your second wheats?
But regardless of the level of impact, take-all control is seen as by far the greatest agronomic challenge in second wheat production, with eyespot and/or sharp eyespot control being the only other challenge identified as being important (by just over half the participating growers).
Fertiliser planning, straw and seedbed management and weed control are seen as key challenges by notably fewer growers, while foliar disease control is rated as the least important crop challenge.
“On average, farmers are employing more than four out of eight of the main management techniques used to address the challenge of second wheat production,”
explains study co-ordinator, Susan Mintern of Monsanto.
“Selecting suitable second wheat varieties, and using a take-all seed treatment, are by far the most commonly used techniques –– mentioned by over 85% of growers in each case.”
More than seven in 10 growers report applying earlier spring nitrogen and delaying drilling until October –– with fewer spending time preparing better seedbeds, improving their crop fertilisation, or employing different approaches to foliar disease control in second wheat (see figure 2).
Figure 2: What techniques are you using to optimise your second wheat performance?
Fertiliser planning, straw and seedbed management and weed control are seen as key challenges by notably fewer growers, while foliar disease control is rated as the least important crop challenge.
“On average, farmers are employing more than four out of eight of the main management techniques used to address the challenge of second wheat production,”
explains study co-ordinator, Susan Mintern of Monsanto.
“Selecting suitable second wheat varieties, and using a take-all seed treatment, are by far the most commonly used techniques –– mentioned by over 85% of growers in each case.”
More than seven in 10 growers report applying earlier spring nitrogen and delaying drilling until October –– with fewer spending time preparing better seedbeds, improving their crop fertilisation, or employing different approaches to foliar disease control in second wheat (see figure 2).
Figure 2: What techniques are you using to optimise your second wheat performance?
“An impressive 48% of growers are currently employing all four key second wheat management techniques, and no less than 75% of those using a take-all seed treatment are also delaying drilling until October to achieve the greatest overall early disease control benefit.
Earlier N
“Using a take-all seed treatment appears to be equally important to growers –– whatever their level of risk from the disease,” continues Susan Mintern. “However, noticeably more of those facing a higher-than-average take-all impact are applying earlier spring nitrogen in particular.”
Under these circumstances, it’s not surprising that the vast majority of participating growers (80%) are having all or most of their second wheat seed treated for take-all –– regardless of the level of disease impact (see figure 3).
Figure 3: To what extent do you have your second wheat seed treated for Take-all?
Earlier N
“Using a take-all seed treatment appears to be equally important to growers –– whatever their level of risk from the disease,” continues Susan Mintern. “However, noticeably more of those facing a higher-than-average take-all impact are applying earlier spring nitrogen in particular.”
Under these circumstances, it’s not surprising that the vast majority of participating growers (80%) are having all or most of their second wheat seed treated for take-all –– regardless of the level of disease impact (see figure 3).
Figure 3: To what extent do you have your second wheat seed treated for Take-all?
Of those using a take-all seed treatment, over 70% are currently opting for the specialist dressing, silthiofam (Latitude) while just over 20% are using the multi-purpose treatment, fluquinconazole (e.g. Jockey, Galmano) –– with the remainder using a combination of the two actives (see figure 4).
Figure 4: Which main Take-all seed treatment are you using in 2008/9?
Figure 4: Which main Take-all seed treatment are you using in 2008/9?
“This represents a slight swing away from the multi-purpose treatments during the past season,” says Susan Mintern. The survey suggests the trend will continue this autumn –– with nearly 85% of participating second wheat growers planning to use silthiofam on
its own this autumn, and just 12% intending to use fluquinconazole.
“As well as its consistently positive cost:benefit, the growing popularity of Latitude, compared with the multi-purpose alternatives, almost certainly stems from the relatively low priority growers are placing on foliar disease control in their second wheat management these days.
“It also tallies well with the main management improvements they’re planning to make over the coming season. For instance, 4-5 out of every 10 growers are looking to improve their nitrogen timing, select better second wheat varieties, improve seedbed preparation and treat all of their second wheat seed against take-all this autumn –– with some also planning further delays in the drilling date, improvements in their foliar fungicide programmes, and changes to their choice of take-all seed treatment (see figure 5).
Figure 5: In what ways are you looking to improve your second wheat management in the coming season?
its own this autumn, and just 12% intending to use fluquinconazole.
“As well as its consistently positive cost:benefit, the growing popularity of Latitude, compared with the multi-purpose alternatives, almost certainly stems from the relatively low priority growers are placing on foliar disease control in their second wheat management these days.
“It also tallies well with the main management improvements they’re planning to make over the coming season. For instance, 4-5 out of every 10 growers are looking to improve their nitrogen timing, select better second wheat varieties, improve seedbed preparation and treat all of their second wheat seed against take-all this autumn –– with some also planning further delays in the drilling date, improvements in their foliar fungicide programmes, and changes to their choice of take-all seed treatment (see figure 5).
Figure 5: In what ways are you looking to improve your second wheat management in the coming season?
Confidence vote?
“With 56% of growers already having all of their second wheat seed take-all treated, and with just under half the rest looking to do so next season, it means almost three-quarters of second wheat growers are set to treat all of their seed this autumn,” she observes. “That’s a very impressive vote of confidence in a product which has only been available for less than a decade.”
Demonstrating the extent to which growers are improving their second wheat management, ProCam Agronomy has seen the performance disadvantage of second wheat shrink noticeably in recent years amongst its customers.
Harvest records from more than 1,200 crops –– drawn from the company’s national 4cast performance database –– show second wheat yielding an average of 8.49t/ha last year, compared with 9.55t/ha for first wheat. Although this 1t/ha deficit was identical to thatrecorded in 2001, the eight-year-trend clearly shows second wheats are now closing the gap (see figure 6).
Figure 6: ProCam UK Wheat Performance Trends (2001-2008)
“With 56% of growers already having all of their second wheat seed take-all treated, and with just under half the rest looking to do so next season, it means almost three-quarters of second wheat growers are set to treat all of their seed this autumn,” she observes. “That’s a very impressive vote of confidence in a product which has only been available for less than a decade.”
Demonstrating the extent to which growers are improving their second wheat management, ProCam Agronomy has seen the performance disadvantage of second wheat shrink noticeably in recent years amongst its customers.
Harvest records from more than 1,200 crops –– drawn from the company’s national 4cast performance database –– show second wheat yielding an average of 8.49t/ha last year, compared with 9.55t/ha for first wheat. Although this 1t/ha deficit was identical to thatrecorded in 2001, the eight-year-trend clearly shows second wheats are now closing the gap (see figure 6).
Figure 6: ProCam UK Wheat Performance Trends (2001-2008)
ProCam agronomist, Nick Myers, says: “Our first wheats performed exceptionally well last season averaging a good 0.5t/ha more than we’ve ever recorded. While we saw some excellent second wheats too, a relatively small number of crops in the 5-6t/ha bracket pulled the average down.
“Even so, second wheat yields were well up –– around the 8.5t/ha mark –– which is the best we’ve had in recent years.
“And while this shows average first wheat yields have increased by about 0.5t/ha since 2001, second wheat performance has improved at almost double that rate.”
Nick Myers sees the narrowing of the second wheat performance gap as just reward for the efforts growers and agronomists have been putting into raising second wheat yields in recent years –– underlining his long-standing belief that the performance of second wheat can be brought far closer to that of first wheat with improved agronomy.
“Until 2001, the only defence we had against take-all was to delay drilling and while this helped us minimise the disease, we know that the best time to sow wheat for the maximum yield is September –– so it was very much a case of swings and roundabouts. Under the circumstances, most people just accepted that second wheats were the 'poor relation’ and made the best of a bad job.”
The arrival of Latitude has led to an extra 0.25-0.5t/ha in yield –– with the greatest
improvements being from the earliest drillings, he continues. “And the very fact that treated second wheats can be drilled earlier without an increased take-all risk has been a tremendous boon for growers keen to minimise the risk of failing to get drilled-up.
‘Attitude change’
“But what we’ve really seen in the past seven years is a change in attitudes –– growers have been keenly focused on cutting the second wheat performance gap. And as they’ve done so, they’ve started treating their second wheat as a distinctly different crop –– for example, choosing varieties specifically suited to this slot, as well as drilling earlier, taking steps to enhance autumn establishment, and improving spring fertiliser, fungicide and PGR management.
“It’s this attitude change more than anything else, that’s behind the second wheat progress we’re recording these days.
“However, we still have more variability in second wheat yields than we’d like and
there’s no doubt that first wheats remain more profitable on average.”
4cast figures show the top 25% of second wheat crops earning gross margins of £1,034/ha, compared with a first wheat average of £883/ha. “So many growers are
clearly doing the job very well these days.”
David Langton of Masstock SMART Farming insists that second wheat can consistently deliver a handsome return on investment –– with the right management. “That means taking a very different approach to first wheat.”
He and his colleagues have set out the latest technical understanding for growers in a 20-page second wheat management guide, as part of their Sustainable Rotations Initiative.
“At least 50% of the important second wheat management decisions need to be made before the crop emerges,” he stresses. “With take-all and, to a lesser extent, eyespot being the biggest challenges, correct variety choice is vital. But so too is choosing an appropriate seed treatment.
“Drilling date is another important consideration in minimising the impact of take-all –– together with the correct seed rate –– and doing everything possible to ensure the optimum root development.
“Alongside better crop nutrition and improved fungicide and PGR management, it’s essential that these measures are applied together as a package for the most consistent benefit.”
Masstock advises its growers to select varieties that give both the highest actual
yields as second wheats, together with the highest yields relative to their first wheat
performance.
On that basis, David Langton reckons varieties like Battalion, Duxford and Grafton are likely to be the best choices. “Although Einstein has been the benchmark second wheat for some time now, recent Masstock experience backs-up trials evidence suggesting that it’s becoming outclassed by the likes of Battalion and Grafton, with their particularly strong eyespot resistance.
“It’s worth remembering too that milling wheats can be particularly valuable in the second wheat slot,” he points out. “After all, many growers use the yield limitation of second wheat cropping as a way of improving their chances of making the milling spec by ensuring high protein levels.”
But regardless of variety, Masstock advocates using a seed treatment which is effective against take-all in all second wheats, as well as wheats after spring barley, as a matter of course this season unless the risk from the disease has historically been very low.
“We see the specialist fungicide, silthiofam (Latitude), as more valuable than either of the fluquinconazole-based dressings, Jockey or Galmano, where the take-all pressure is high,” explains David Langton. “Under these circumstances, an average yield benefit of 0.7t/ha has been recorded in our trials –– with associated specific weight mprovements of 1-2kg/hl as well.
“But where the take-all pressure is lighter, there’s less to choose between the two actives –– with both delivering yield benefits of around 0.3-0.5t/ha. However, the cost:benefit of Latitude at current wheat prices is such that many growers may prefer to err on the side of safety and go for the specialist treatment –– unless some early season foliar disease control is also considered important.
“Whether you use a take-all seed treatment or not, the close correlation between the drilling date and take-all impact always makes it advisable to sow second, third and fourth wheats last –– giving priority to first and continuous wheats which are at far less risk,” he recommends. He says he would never consider sowing a second wheat before October without an appropriate seed treatment.
Unless the sowing date is particularly late, or the seedbed especially difficult, the Masstock guide suggests there may be some take-all management benefit from reducing the seed rate. As well as suffering lower levels of infection rates, less densely-drilled crops tend to be better able to cope with take-all by virtue of their greater root mass, believes David Langton. “Equally, of course, seed dressings will be more economic in this situation.”
Well-prepared and well-consolidated seedbeds are also highlighted as important in both inhibiting early take-all development and encouraging maximum nutrient uptake and root proliferation.
Good nitrogen, potash, phosphate and manganese nutrition are recommended as particularly essential with second wheats too, he continues. “They should always be prioritised for early spring N applications, with a small amount of autumn N as well in some cases –– subject to justification from a FACTS-qualified agronomist to satisfy the Environment Agency.”
Although their take-all effect is quite small in well-managed second wheat, he also sees the use of suitable strobilurin fungicides as being of some help in the absence of a specialist seed treatment. Equally, he remains adamant that T1 spraying decisions should take into account the need to control the stem-base diseases complex (e.g. eyespot and sharp eyespot) as well as the key foliar threats, Septoria tritici and the rusts.
“Undoubtedly, the single most important ingredient for success with second wheat is having the right attitude,” concludes David Langton. “More than anything, the key to getting the best possible returns is to recognise the particular challenges the crop faces and do everything possible to overcome them.”
“Even so, second wheat yields were well up –– around the 8.5t/ha mark –– which is the best we’ve had in recent years.
“And while this shows average first wheat yields have increased by about 0.5t/ha since 2001, second wheat performance has improved at almost double that rate.”
Nick Myers sees the narrowing of the second wheat performance gap as just reward for the efforts growers and agronomists have been putting into raising second wheat yields in recent years –– underlining his long-standing belief that the performance of second wheat can be brought far closer to that of first wheat with improved agronomy.
“Until 2001, the only defence we had against take-all was to delay drilling and while this helped us minimise the disease, we know that the best time to sow wheat for the maximum yield is September –– so it was very much a case of swings and roundabouts. Under the circumstances, most people just accepted that second wheats were the 'poor relation’ and made the best of a bad job.”
The arrival of Latitude has led to an extra 0.25-0.5t/ha in yield –– with the greatest
improvements being from the earliest drillings, he continues. “And the very fact that treated second wheats can be drilled earlier without an increased take-all risk has been a tremendous boon for growers keen to minimise the risk of failing to get drilled-up.
‘Attitude change’
“But what we’ve really seen in the past seven years is a change in attitudes –– growers have been keenly focused on cutting the second wheat performance gap. And as they’ve done so, they’ve started treating their second wheat as a distinctly different crop –– for example, choosing varieties specifically suited to this slot, as well as drilling earlier, taking steps to enhance autumn establishment, and improving spring fertiliser, fungicide and PGR management.
“It’s this attitude change more than anything else, that’s behind the second wheat progress we’re recording these days.
“However, we still have more variability in second wheat yields than we’d like and
there’s no doubt that first wheats remain more profitable on average.”
4cast figures show the top 25% of second wheat crops earning gross margins of £1,034/ha, compared with a first wheat average of £883/ha. “So many growers are
clearly doing the job very well these days.”
David Langton of Masstock SMART Farming insists that second wheat can consistently deliver a handsome return on investment –– with the right management. “That means taking a very different approach to first wheat.”
He and his colleagues have set out the latest technical understanding for growers in a 20-page second wheat management guide, as part of their Sustainable Rotations Initiative.
“At least 50% of the important second wheat management decisions need to be made before the crop emerges,” he stresses. “With take-all and, to a lesser extent, eyespot being the biggest challenges, correct variety choice is vital. But so too is choosing an appropriate seed treatment.
“Drilling date is another important consideration in minimising the impact of take-all –– together with the correct seed rate –– and doing everything possible to ensure the optimum root development.
“Alongside better crop nutrition and improved fungicide and PGR management, it’s essential that these measures are applied together as a package for the most consistent benefit.”
Masstock advises its growers to select varieties that give both the highest actual
yields as second wheats, together with the highest yields relative to their first wheat
performance.
On that basis, David Langton reckons varieties like Battalion, Duxford and Grafton are likely to be the best choices. “Although Einstein has been the benchmark second wheat for some time now, recent Masstock experience backs-up trials evidence suggesting that it’s becoming outclassed by the likes of Battalion and Grafton, with their particularly strong eyespot resistance.
“It’s worth remembering too that milling wheats can be particularly valuable in the second wheat slot,” he points out. “After all, many growers use the yield limitation of second wheat cropping as a way of improving their chances of making the milling spec by ensuring high protein levels.”
But regardless of variety, Masstock advocates using a seed treatment which is effective against take-all in all second wheats, as well as wheats after spring barley, as a matter of course this season unless the risk from the disease has historically been very low.
“We see the specialist fungicide, silthiofam (Latitude), as more valuable than either of the fluquinconazole-based dressings, Jockey or Galmano, where the take-all pressure is high,” explains David Langton. “Under these circumstances, an average yield benefit of 0.7t/ha has been recorded in our trials –– with associated specific weight mprovements of 1-2kg/hl as well.
“But where the take-all pressure is lighter, there’s less to choose between the two actives –– with both delivering yield benefits of around 0.3-0.5t/ha. However, the cost:benefit of Latitude at current wheat prices is such that many growers may prefer to err on the side of safety and go for the specialist treatment –– unless some early season foliar disease control is also considered important.
“Whether you use a take-all seed treatment or not, the close correlation between the drilling date and take-all impact always makes it advisable to sow second, third and fourth wheats last –– giving priority to first and continuous wheats which are at far less risk,” he recommends. He says he would never consider sowing a second wheat before October without an appropriate seed treatment.
Unless the sowing date is particularly late, or the seedbed especially difficult, the Masstock guide suggests there may be some take-all management benefit from reducing the seed rate. As well as suffering lower levels of infection rates, less densely-drilled crops tend to be better able to cope with take-all by virtue of their greater root mass, believes David Langton. “Equally, of course, seed dressings will be more economic in this situation.”
Well-prepared and well-consolidated seedbeds are also highlighted as important in both inhibiting early take-all development and encouraging maximum nutrient uptake and root proliferation.
Good nitrogen, potash, phosphate and manganese nutrition are recommended as particularly essential with second wheats too, he continues. “They should always be prioritised for early spring N applications, with a small amount of autumn N as well in some cases –– subject to justification from a FACTS-qualified agronomist to satisfy the Environment Agency.”
Although their take-all effect is quite small in well-managed second wheat, he also sees the use of suitable strobilurin fungicides as being of some help in the absence of a specialist seed treatment. Equally, he remains adamant that T1 spraying decisions should take into account the need to control the stem-base diseases complex (e.g. eyespot and sharp eyespot) as well as the key foliar threats, Septoria tritici and the rusts.
“Undoubtedly, the single most important ingredient for success with second wheat is having the right attitude,” concludes David Langton. “More than anything, the key to getting the best possible returns is to recognise the particular challenges the crop faces and do everything possible to overcome them.”
