By Scout Nelson
Small grain harvest is underway in Minnesota, with early reports showing good grain quality and better-than-expected yields in some areas. Oat growers, however, continue to face challenges with green stems despite grain being ready for harvest.
Spring wheat producers in the Red River Valley are encouraged to scout fields for Fusarium Head Blight (FHB). Fields planted with susceptible varieties or grown after corn should be prioritized, as they are at a higher risk of infection.
Growers should assess the percentage of infected spikelets and evaluate disease severity. If FHB affects more than 1% of spikelets, examining the condition of infected kernels becomes important before harvest decisions are made.
Lightweight and severely damaged kernels can sometimes be removed by increasing combine fan speed during harvest. This practice may help lower DON levels in harvested grain, although it can also increase harvest losses.
When infected kernels are close in size to healthy kernels, removal during harvest becomes less effective. In such cases, producers may need to store grain separately and test for DON levels before marketing.
Additional management options include blending grain with lower-DON lots, removing grain dust during unloading, and using gravity tables to separate lighter, damaged kernels. These practices can help improve grain quality and reduce market discounts.
Careful field scouting, harvest adjustments, and post-harvest grain management can help minimize the impact of Fusarium Head Blight. Taking these steps can protect grain quality and improve marketing opportunities for wheat growers.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-nicexray
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Corn, Wheat