| Planning
 Establish permanent records of fertility, pesticide use, rotation and cultural practices for each field.
Rotate small grain crop with other crop types whenever possible. Small grain crop residues can harbor disease.
Sample and analyze soil annually to determine nutrient levels and fertilizer requirements.
Consider salinity levels when selecting a field. Wheat is typically less tolerant to salinity than barley. For example, the same soil salinity reduces wheat yields by 25 percent and barley yields by 10 percent. However, salinity tolerances vary between varieties.
Fertilize small grains for a realistic yield goal based on the variety, soil condition, and production potential. The total nitrogen (N) needed for malt barley and feed barley is 1.0 to 1.2 pounds/bushel times the yield goal bushels/acre. Example: A yield goal of 135 bushels/acre would use a total N supply of 135 to 162 pounds/acre. The N requirement for wheat is 1.6 to 1.8 pounds/bushel. Example: A 110 bushel/acre yield goal would use a total N supply of 187 to 198 pounds/acre.
Select adapted small grain cultivars based on local variety trial reports.
Account for all nitrogen sources including residual soil nitrogen and organic matter, added fertilizer nitrogen, and nitrogen supplied by irrigation water. Five factors that must be considered before making an accurate nitrogen fertilizer recommendation: 1) level of residual inorganic soil N; 2) previous crop residue level; 3) estimate contributions from applied irrigation water; 4) yield goal; 5) grain protein goal.
Preplant and Planting
Perform tillage operations necessary to manage weeds and crop residues, minimize erosion and promote proper soil tilth for planting. \
Perform tillage operations necessary to manage weeds and crop residues, minimize erosion and promote proper soil tilth for planting. \
Avoid excessive N from over-fertilizing, which reduces crop quality, decreases N use efficiency, increases .the potential for groundwater contamination, and is uneconomical.
Plant at a suggested seeding depth 1/2 to 1 inch in a moderately fine but firm seedbed that maximizes contact between the seed and soil moisture for rapid, uniform germination.
Always use certified seed.
Use a general seed fungicide for seedling blights caused by Fusarium and Helminthosporium. Use a systemic fungicide such as Vitavax for control of loose smut.
Crop Management
Monitor fields for all pests and apply pesticides if necessary and economically feasible.
Apply all pesticides according to the label to
avoid the risk of groundwater contamination and other environmental concerns.
Maintain moderate amounts of crop residue on the soil surface to reduce wind erosion. Properly managed crop residues will not interfere with proper seed placement and seedling growth.
Maintain sufficient nutrient levels in the root zone early in the season to attain maximum yields, because tillers and heads are formed in the early growth stages.
Schedule irrigation to match water applications to crop requirements. Scheduling requires a knowledge of crop water use rates and plant-available soil moisture. Specific crop water-use reports are available from various local sources.
Apply only light irrigations during tillering, because the roots are relatively shallow. Excessive irrigation leaches available nitrogen below the root zone, limiting yield and quality potential.
Avoid moisture stress at any growth stage before grain soft dough. Drought during tillering or between the boot and flowering stages causes yield reductions and higher grain screenings.
Harvest
Windrow grains at physiological maturity. Harvest standing grain with a grain moisture content below 13 percent unless drying operations are available. Small grains are physiologically mature when the stem below the head turns yellow. Kernels of all small grains are fully developed when the moisture content is below 35 percent. Windrowing hastens drying of the crop and weeds allowing for earlier harvests.
Post-harvest
Spread straw and chaff as uniformly as practical to reduce residue management problems for the following crop and erosion protection. For conservation tillage, incorporate crop residue as soon as possible for faster decomposition. If moldboard plowing, delay tillage as long as practical. Always limit the amount of time the soil is without crop residue protection. Crop residue also is a source of local wildlife food.
Post-harvest
Prepare grain storage by cleaning and treating with an appropriate insecticide as necessary. Certain insecticides are restricted depending on the intended use of the grain.
Store grain with a moisture content less than 13 percent unless drying operations are in place.
Prevent grain deterioration in storage by keeping the grain dry, cool, and free of insects. Problems for grain in storage, including molds, insects, loss of weight, and chemical changes, are related to grain moisture content, grain temperature or both.
Storage
Prepare grain storage by cleaning and treating with an appropriate insecticide as necessary. Certain insecticides are restricted depending on the intended use of the grain.
Store grain with a moisture content less than 13 percent unless drying operations are in place.
Prevent grain deterioration in storage by keeping the grain dry, cool, and free of insects. Problems for grain in storage, including molds, insects, loss of weight, and chemical changes, are related to grain moisture content, grain temperature or both.
Scouting: Key to success in IPM
Field scouting is important in identifying pest problems before they get out of control. Some producers often use the same pest control measures on all of their fields or watch their neighbors to know when it is time to spray. IPM makes no such assumptions. Successful IPM depends on monitor- ing each field individually for potentially damaging pest outbreaks.
The tools for a thorough scouting program include: soil and tissue monitoring; pheromone, pan or sticky traps; hand .lenses; sweep net; visual observations and a good system of field records and maps. To scout for pests:
Acquire and understand the use of necessary scouting equipment;
Record each trip to the field including the crop stage and condition, pest populations and distribution, date and time of day, and any control recommendations;
Scout each field, crop and variety. Scout for pests by walking through the field - don't just check the field borders;
Visit each field weekly. Certain crop stages may require less frequent scouting, but others may require more during critical pest phases;
Use all appropriate scouting methods:
Insects - regional monitoring reports, observation, leaf and stem sampling:, and sweep net sampling;
Diseases - field history, observation, plant tissue sampling, and soil sampling;
Weeds - field history and observation;
Follow the proper re-entry guidelines for fields treated with pesticides; and,
Sample the pest, plant material and soil when appropriate if you notice a problem that you cannot identify and seek assistance from your nearest Colorado State University Cooperative Extension office or local crop adviser as soon as possible.
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