Two weeks ago, I was an invited speaker at an Iowa State University Extension agronomy program for producers in southwest Iowa. Given my talk was on adding small grain production in southwest Iowa; I was not expecting much of a crowd since there was another concurrent session they could attend. To my dismay, 40 producers opted to come to my session. The producers took most of my handouts and a group of producers caught me after my presentation to ask additional questions.
As a Cropping Systems Extension Educator, it is my job to share science-based recommendations for addressing tough production issues such as frogeye leaf spot resistance, Palmer amaranth, and corn rootworm. However, changing the crop rotation to help address agronomic challenges is usually the last resort in the minds of many producers. In 2018, I launched my Winter Wheat Works Initiative, an effort to encourage and support growers in eastern Nebraska to move from a strict corn-soybean rotation to a successful flex-rotation where some winter wheat acres are considered each year and strategically integrated into their cropping system.
My goal with the Iowa producers was to provide them with the fundamental information they needed to succeed with their first wheat crop. If you struggle to manage a good crop the first year, you likely will not try it a second time. Why would these Iowa producers be considering adding winter wheat?
I have been closely working with some wheat growers in eastern Nebraska with over the past several years. The first group have livestock as a part of the operation. Along with managing and getting for high yields (80-100 bushels per acre), they are utilizing the straw, hauling manure and planting a great forage crop. Some of the producers do not have livestock, they are focusing on reducing erosion, improving soil health, planting a diverse cover crop, levering USDA-NRCS incentives, solving pest issues, and improving yield of the other cash crops in the rotation. Additionally, there is a great opportunity for crop producers without livestock to collaborate with a livestock producer to create a mutually beneficial situation.
I encourage you read or listen to my interview with Tyler Harris, Nebraska Farmer Magazine editor on why some growers should consider adding winter wheat into the rotation at my locally focused website, croptechcafe.org/winterwheat. You can also view my slides from that recent presentation I gave in Iowa at croptechcafe.org. If you are not able or interested in getting online to check out my Winter Wheat Cafe webpage, give me call at our office in Wilber at 402-821-2151 to setup a time to chat with me. So, are you a crop rotation warrior that will use all other options in the toolbox before ever considering changing the crop rotation? Alternatively, are you the local crop rotation wizard already tinkering with alternative crops? Know your crop, know your tech, know your bottom line.
