Adam Shea

Things to look at on your YEN report. 1. How many heads per square meter do you have? If it’s not over 700, why not? How many seeds are you dropping to get the heads you are getting? There is about 4047 square meter per acre, so if dropping 1.6 million seeds, then you are dropping 393 seeds per sq. meter. Say 650 heads per 393 seeds means 1.5 heads per seed. If every seed was viable you have less than 1 tiller per plant. Normal from my experience is 2 to 2.5 heads per viable plant (1 to 1.5 tillers) when planted a week after the optimal seed date. If your below this 800 heads per sq m, need to dig into why you have such poor performance on the seed establishment. Usually it’s related to drill maintenance and field setup, or perhaps your seed rate is too low for the date if past the optimal planting date and/or lack of in-furrow starter P. 2. Look at your Nitrogen tests, and grain protein results. Should be approaching 10% protein in SRW if you had optimal N rates for the yield potential. Above average yield potential may require higher N rates. Ideally spilt apply on growing crop ahead of light to moderate rain event. 3. Look at N:S ratio, will provide an indication if enough S is being applied to meet protein formation. If S deficient, plants are not responsive to additional N, and higher rates will not increase yields. 4. Check Phosphorus values in soil, tissue, grain tests. P drives energy accumulation, and helps to promote tillering. If low P testing soil and no starter P, expect to see reduced tillering and less thrifty plants, especially when planting is delayed.