First hollow stem update 03/09/15

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Amanda De Oliveira Silva

First hollow stem is the optimal time to remove cattle from wheat pasture (full explanation). To monitor first hollow stem, we measure hollow stem for the 56 lines in our September-sown wheat forage plots at Stillwater each year. In spite of the recent cold snap many varieties are progressing towards first hollow stem. The small grains extension crew split ten stems from lines tested in our program today and KanMark, Sy Southwind and Greer join the list of varieties at or past first hollow stem. Full results are posted in the table below. Varieties with no value for first hollow stem reached first hollow stem on a previous measurement date.

We will take another set of measurements later this week and report the results on this blog. Given the warm forecast for the coming week, I predict that all varieties will be well past first hollow stem by Friday. You can check progression of first hollow stem around the state by using the First Hollow Stem Advisor on the Oklahoma Mesonet site.

First hollow stem measured in wheat sown 09/16/2014 at Stillwater, OK. Varieties with ‘-‘ reached first hollow stem on a previous measurement date
Variety	cm of hollow stem 03/09/15
Endurance	0.2
Deliver	0.2
Pete	0.3
OK Rising	0.7
Billings	1.0
Ruby Lee	0.6
Garrison	0.9
Duster	0.9
Gallagher	–
Iba	0.8
Centerfield	0.5
Doublestop CL Plus	0.6
NF 101	–
Everest	–
1863	–
KanMark	1.5
Oakley CL	0.9
KS061406	1.2
Sy Llano	–
Sy Southwind	2.6
Greer	2.1
Jackpot	–
Sy Monument	0.7
06BC722#25	–
AP09T7631	1.5
WB-Cedar	–
WB-Redhawk	–
WB4458	–
WB-Grainfield	0.8
Winterhawk	–
T153	–
T154	–
T158	0.8
LCS Mint	–
LCS Wizard	0.6
LCS Pistol	–
LCH13DH-20-87	1.0
LCH13DH-14-91	–
TAM 112	–
TAM 204	–
TAM 113	–
TAM 114	–
CO11D174	2.2
Byrd	–
Brawl CL Plus	–
OK09125	1.3
OK1059060-2C14	0.9
OK10126	–
OK11D25056	1.1
OK11231	–
OK12621	1.1
OK13625	–
OK0986130-7C13	–
OK08P707W-19C13	1.4
OK10728W	–
OK11755W	–

First hollow stem update 03/05/15

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Amanda De Oliveira Silva

First hollow stem is the optimal time to remove cattle from wheat pasture (full explanation). To monitor first hollow stem, we measure hollow stem for the 56 lines in our September-sown wheat forage plots at Stillwater each year. In spite of the recent cold snap many varieties are progressing towards first hollow stem. The small grains extension crew split ten stems from lines tested in our program today and1863, LCS Mint, TAM 204, TAM 113, TAM 114, and Byrd join the list of varieties at or past first hollow stem. Full results are posted in the table below. Varieties with no value for first hollow stem reached first hollow stem on a previous measurement date.

We will take another set of measurements later this week and report the results on this blog. Given the warm forecast for the coming week, I predict that all varieties will be well past first hollow stem by next Friday. You can check progression of first hollow stem around the state by using the First Hollow Stem Advisor on the Oklahoma Mesonet site.

First hollow stem measured in wheat sown 09/16/2014 at Stillwater, OK. Varieties with a “-” reached first hollow stem on a previous measurement date
Variety	cm of hollow stem 03/05/15
Endurance	0.2
Deliver	0.2
Pete	0.1
OK Rising	0.2
Billings	0.7
Ruby Lee	0.6
Garrison	0.5
Duster	0.5
Gallagher	–
Iba	0.5
Centerfield	0.2
Doublestop CL Plus	0.3
NF 101	–
Everest	–
1863	1.6
KanMark	1.1
Oakley CL	0.6
KS061406	1.0
Sy Llano	–
Sy Southwind	0.9
Greer	1.1
Jackpot	–
Sy Monument	0.1
06BC722#25	2.8
AP09T7631	1.1
WB-Cedar	–
WB-Redhawk	–
WB4458	–
WB-Grainfield	0.8
Winterhawk	–
T153	–
T154	–
T158	1.3
LCS Mint	1.5
LCS Wizard	0.7
LCS Pistol	–
LCH13DH-20-87	1.1
LCH13DH-14-91	–
TAM 112	–
TAM 204	1.6
TAM 113	1.6
TAM 114	1.9
CO11D174	1.1
Byrd	1.7
Brawl CL Plus	–
OK09125	0.8
OK1059060-2C14	1.4
OK10126	–
OK11D25056	0.9
OK11231	–
OK12621	0.8
OK13625	–
OK0986130-7C13	–
OK08P707W-19C13	1.3
OK10728W	1.5
OK11755W	–
Average	1.0

First hollow stem update 03/02/15

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Amanda De Oliveira Silva

First hollow stem is the optimal time to remove cattle from wheat pasture (full explanation). To monitor first hollow stem, we measure hollow stem for the 56 lines in our September-sown wheat forage plots at Stillwater each year. In spite of the recent cold snap many varieties are progressing towards first hollow stem. The small grains extension crew split ten stems from lines tested in our program today and NF 101 and Brawl CL Plus join the list of varieties at or past first hollow stem. Full results are posted in the table below. We will take another set of measurements later this week and report the results on this blog.

The numbers reported from Stillwater are likely behind those being observed in southern Oklahoma and ahead of those observed in northern Oklahoma. You can check progression of first hollow stem around the state by using the First Hollow Stem Advisor on the Oklahoma Mesonet site.

First hollow stem measured in wheat sown 09/16/2014 at Stillwater, OK.
Variety	cm of hollow stem 03/02/15
Endurance	0.5
Deliver	0.4
Pete	0.1
OK Rising	0.1
Billings	0.4
Ruby Lee	0.2
Garrison	0.1
Duster	0.4
Gallagher	.
Iba	0.1
Centerfield	0.1
Doublestop CL Plus	0.1
NF 101	1.5
Everest	.
1863	0.6
KanMark	0.4
Oakley CL	0.6
KS061406	0.7
Sy Llano	.
Sy Southwind	0.2
Greer	0.8
Jackpot	.
Sy Monument	0.4
06BC722#25	1.3
AP09T7631	0.4
WB-Cedar	.
WB-Redhawk	.
WB4458	.
WB-Grainfield	1.1
Winterhawk	.
T153	.
T154	.
T158	0.5
LCS Mint	0.8
LCS Wizard	0.9
LCS Pistol	.
LCH13DH-20-87	0.8
LCH13DH-14-91	.
TAM 112	.
TAM 204	1.4
TAM 113	1.2
TAM 114	1.4
CO11D174	0.9
Byrd	0.7
Brawl CL Plus	1.8
OK09125	0.5
OK1059060-2C14	0.7
OK10126	.
OK11D25056	0.7
OK11231	2.2
OK12621	0.9
OK13625	.
OK0986130-7C13	.
OK08P707W-19C13	1.2
OK10728W	1.0
OK11755W	.
Average	0.7

First hollow stem update 02/26/15

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Amanda De Oliveira Silva

First hollow stem is the optimal time to remove cattle from wheat pasture (full explanation). To monitor first hollow stem, we measure hollow stem for the 56 lines in our September-sown wheat forage plots at Stillwater each year. In spite of the recent cold snap many varieties are progressing towards first hollow stem. The small grains extension crew split ten stems from lines tested in our program today and Gallagher, Everest, Jackpot, Winterhawk, T153, T154, LCS Pistol, and TAM 112 join the list of varieties at or past first hollow stem. Full results are posted in the table below. We will take another set of measurements the first of next week and report the results on this blog.

First hollow stem measured in wheat sown 09/16/2014 at Stillwater, OK. Varieties in red are at or past first hollow stem.
Variety	cm of hollow stem 02/26/15
Endurance	0.0
Deliver	0.6
Pete	0.0
OK Rising	0.1
Billings	0.5
Ruby Lee	0.4
Garrison	0.1
Duster	0.1
Gallagher	2.0
Iba	0.1
Centerfield	0.2
Doublestop CL Plus	0.0
NF 101	1.0
Everest	1.6
1863	0.7
KanMark	1.1
Oakley CL	1.0
KS061406	0.8
Sy Llano	–
Sy Southwind	0.6
Greer	0.8
Jackpot	1.9
Sy Monument	0.0
06BC722#25	0.8
AP09T7631	0.1
WB-Cedar	–
WB-Redhawk	–
WB4458	1.7
WB-Grainfield	1.0
Winterhawk	1.9
T153	1.5
T154	2.3
T158	0.1
LCS Mint	1.4
LCS Wizard	0.7
LCS Pistol	1.7
LCH13DH-20-87	0.8
LCH13DH-14-91	–
TAM 112	1.9
TAM 204	1.3
TAM 113	1.4
TAM 114	1.2
CO11D174	1.1
Byrd	0.7
Brawl CL Plus	0.9
OK09125	0.9
OK1059060-2C14	0.9
OK10126	2.3
OK11D25056	1.5
OK11231	1.4
OK12621	0.6
OK13625	–
OK0986130-7C13	–
OK08P707W-19C13	1.0
OK10728W	1.0
OK11755W	2.2
Average	1.0

First hollow stem update 02/19/15

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Amanda De Oliveira Silva

First hollow stem is the optimal time to remove cattle from wheat pasture (full explanation). We measure first hollow in our September-sown wheat forage plots at Stillwater each year, and the warm temperatures have caused first hollow stem to advance ahead of schedule this year. The small grains extension crew split ten stems from each of the 56 lines tested in our program yesterday and Sy Llano, WB-Cedar, WB-Redhawk, and a few experimental lines were all at first hollow stem. Early varieties such as Gallagher, Greer, Everest, WB4458, TAM 114, and Brawl CL Plus are not far behind. A full listing of first hollow stem measurements are included in the table at the end of this blog. We will take another set of measurements the first of next week and report the results on this blog.

The numbers reported from Stillwater are likely behind those being observed in southern Oklahoma and ahead of those observed in northern Oklahoma. Jim Johnson with the Noble Foundation reported seeing quite a bit of first hollow stem in early varieties last week.

Probability of first hollow stem for early maturing wheat varieties as estimated on 02/19/15. Red areas indicate there is at least 50% likelihood that early-maturing wheat varieties have reached first hollow stem in the shaded area.

One week projection of first hollow stem for early-maturing wheat cultivars 02/19/15

The First Hollow Stem Advisor on the Oklahoma Mesonet indicates that early varieties in southern Oklahoma are likely past first hollow stem and that early varieties in central Oklahoma will reach this point within a week.

Keep in mind the one week projection uses historical weather conditions which are slightly above our current forecast. Cooler than normal conditions will not last long and wheat can grow anytime average daily temperature is above 32F. So, my advice is to move cattle off of wheat pasture in southern Oklahoma yesterday, start moving them off of wheat pasture in central Oklahoma today, and move cattle off wheat pasture in northern Oklahoma next week.

First hollow stem measured in wheat sown 09/16/2014 at Stillwater, OK. Varieties at or past first hollow stem (>1.5 cm of hollow stem) are shaded in red.
Variety	cm of hollow stem 02/18/14
Endurance	0.1
Deliver	0.0
Pete	0.0
OK Rising	0.0
Billings	0.7
Ruby Lee	0.0
Garrison	0.1
Duster	0.1
Gallagher	1.2
Iba	0.2
Centerfield	0.0
Doublestop CL Plus	0.0
NF 101	0.9
Everest	1.3
1863	0.6
KanMark	0.5
Oakley CL	1.0
KS061406	0.4
Sy Llano	2.7
Sy Southwind	0.8
Greer	1.4
Jackpot	0.8
Sy Monument	0.0
06BC722#25	0.5
AP09T7631	0.7
WB-Cedar	1.5
WB-Redhawk	1.5
WB4458	1.3
WB-Grainfield	0.1
Winterhawk	0.8
T153	1.1
T154	0.6
T158	0.1
LCS Mint	0.7
LCS Wizard	0.4
LCS Pistol	0.8
LCH13DH-20-87	0.4
LCH13DH-14-91	1.8
TAM 112	0.9
TAM 204	1.0
TAM 113	0.7
TAM 114	1.3
CO11D174	0.5
Byrd	0.5
Brawl CL Plus	1.2
OK09125	0.9
OK1059060-2C14	0.4
OK10126	0.5
OK11D25056	0.2
OK11231	0.6
OK12621	0.7
OK13625	1.6
OK0986130-7C13	2.2
OK08P707W-19C13	0.9
OK10728W	1.0
OK11755W	1.2
Average	0.7

Checking for first hollow stem

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Amanda De Oliveira Silva

First hollow stem occurs just prior to jointing and is the optimal time to remove cattle from wheat pasture. First hollow stem usually occurs in mid to late February in southern Oklahoma and early March in northern Oklahoma. Grazing past first hollow stem can reduce wheat grain yield by as much as 5% per day and the added cattle gains are not enough to offset the value of the reduced wheat yield.

Similar to previous years, we will monitor occurrence of first hollow stem in our wheat plots at Stillwater and report the findings on this blog. There is also a new first hollow stem advisor available on the Oklahoma Mesonet that can assist in determining when to start scouting.

Checking for first hollow stem is fairly easy.

You must check first hollow stem in a nongrazed area of the same variety and planting date. Variety can affect date of first hollow stem by as much as three weeks and planting date can affect it even more.
Dig or pull up a few plants and split the largest tiller longitudinally (lengthways) and measure the amount of hollow stem present below the developing grain head. You must dig plants because at this stage the developing grain head may still be below the soil surface.
If there is 1.5 cm of hollow stem present (see picture below), it is time to remove cattle. 1.5 cm is about the same as the diameter of a dime.
Detailed information on first hollow stem can be found at www.wheat.okstate.edu under ‘wheat management’ then ‘grazing’

The plant on the left is past first hollow stem and is jointing. The plant on the right is at first hollow stem

2013-2014 Wheat fall forage variety trial results

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Amanda De Oliveira Silva

This blog post is an abbreviated posting of our wheat forage results. For the complete report, consult OSU Current Report 2141 Fall forage production and date of first hollow stem in winter wheat varieties during the 2013-2014 crop year by clicking here.

Average daily temperature and rainfall for Stillwater, OK from 09/01/2013 to 03/31/2014

Average daily temperature and rainfall for Chickasha, OK from 09/01/2013 to 03/31/2014

As was the case across most of Oklahoma, our wheat plots were sown into dry topsoil in late September. Soils in southwest and northwest Oklahoma were extremely dry due to multiple years of drought, and wheat pasture was short in these areas of the state. Summer rainfall provided ample subsoil moisture in the central part of the state, but topsoil was largely dry through September. Rains fell across much of the state in October and provided the fuel needed to build wheat pasture. Unfortunately, these October rains would be the only significant rainfall events most of the Oklahoma wheat crop would receive .

Fall forage production by winter wheat at Stillwater and Chickasha averaged 3,240 and 2,580 pounds per acre, respectively (Tables below). There was a large group of varieties at Stillwater and Chickasha that produced statistically equivalent forage yield, and producers are encouraged to consider two and three year averages when available.

Table 2. Fall forage production by winter wheat varieties at Stillwater, OK during the 2013-2014 production year.
Source	Variety	2013-2014	2-Year	3-Year
		—————lbs dry forage/acre—————-
Syngenta	SY Llano	4,100	–	–
AGSECO	TAM 113	4,090	3,160	3,220
OGI	Billings	3,850	3,200	3,250
LCS	LCS Mint	3,690	–	–
OGI	Duster	3,670	3,180	3,300
OGI	Gallagher	3,650	3,230	3,500
LCS	T154	3,640	3,040	–
Syngenta	Doans	3,610	–	–
WestBred	WB4458	3,610	2,920	–
Syngenta	Jackpot	3,600	3,060	3,150
WestBred	WB-Cedar	3,560	3,240	3,250
OSU	Deliver	3,470	2,770	3,010
WestBred	Winterhawk	3,470	2,780	3,020
OGI	Garrison	3,350	3,100	3,210
Watley	TAM 112	3,230	–	–
OGI	Doublestop CL Plus	3,200	3,020	–
OGI	Pete	3,160	2,810	3,020
Syngenta	CJ	3,130	2,810	2,980
LCS	LCH08-80	3,120	2,950	–
WestBred	Armour	3,110	3,000	3,100
LCS	LCH11-1117	3,110	–	–
OGI	Centerfield	3,090	2,820	3,120
OGI	OK Bullet	3,090	2,630	2,820
Syngenta	SY Southwind	3,090	–	–
OSU	Endurance	3,080	3,080	3,310
KWA	Everest	3,050	2,810	3,010
Syngenta	Greer	3,040	2,840	2,960
LCS	LCH11-1130	3,040	–	–
LCS	T158	3,020	2,760	3,000
CWRF	Brawl CL Plus	2,980	2,860	–
OGI	Ruby Lee	2,980	2,610	2,900
LCS	T153	2,960	2,840	3,090
OGI	Iba	2,930	2,770	3,030
WestBred	WB-Grainfield	2,910	2,920	–
WestBred	WB-Redhawk	2,850	2,590	–
LCS	LCH11-109	2,750	2,990	–
OGI	OK Rising	2,720	2,720	–
CWRF	Byrd	2,670	2,590	–
OSU Experimentals
	OK09125	2,800	2,540	–
LSD _(0.05)	750	500	400

Table 3. Fall forage production by winter wheat varieties at Chickasha, OK during the 2013-2014 production year.
Source	Variety	2013-2014	2-Year
		–lbs dry forage/acre–
OGI	Duster	2,920	2,920
OGI	Gallagher	2,920	3,010
LCS	T158	2,900	2,580
CWRF	Brawl CL Plus	2,830	–
KWA	Everest	2,750	2,750
OGI	Doublestop CL Plus	2,700	–
WestBred	Winterhawk	2,680	–
LCS	LCS Mint	2,660	–
OSU	Endurance	2,630	2,620
WestBred	WB-Cedar	2,590	2,630
CWRF	Byrd	2,540	–
Syngenta	Jackpot	2,540	2,460
WB-Grainfield	WB-Grainfield	2,530	–
WestBred	WB4458	2,520	–
OGI	Iba	2,460	2,460
LCS	LCH08-80	2,440	–
OGI	Billings	2,420	–
OGI	Ruby Lee	2,420	2,430
OSU	Deliver	2,410	2,200
Syngenta	Greer	2,380	2,480
Syngenta	Doans	2,210	–
OGI	Garrison	2,160	2,220
OSU Experimentals
	OK09125	2,760	–
Average	2,580	2,560
LSD	430	290

First hollow stem data are reported in ‘day of year’ (day) format (table below). To provide reference, keep in mind that March 1 is day 60. Average occurrence of first hollow stem at Stillwater in 2014 was day 77. This was approximately five days later than 2013 and 25 days later than in 2012 and was the result of much cooler than normal temperatures. Unlike previous years, there was only about ten days difference among varieties in occurrence of first hollow stem.

Table 4. Occurrence of first hollow stem (day of year) for winter wheat varieties sown in 2013 and measured in 2014 at Stillwater, OK
Source	Variety	Stillwater
		–day of year–
Syngenta	SY Llano	72
WestBred	WB-Cedar	72
OGI	Billings	74
Syngenta	CJ	74
KWA	Everest	74
OGI	Gallagher	74
Syngenta	Jackpot	74
OGI	OK Bullet	74
OGI	OK Rising	74
Syngenta	SY Southwind	74
LCS	T153	74
Watley	TAM 112	74
AGSECO	TAM 113	74
WestBred	Armour	77
CWRF	Byrd	77
OSU	Deliver	77
Syngenta	Doans	77
OGI	Duster	77
OSU	Endurance	77
OGI	Garrison	77
Syngenta	Greer	77
LCS	LCH11-109	77
LCS	LCH11-1117	77
LCS	LCH11-1130	77
LCS	LCS Wizard	77
OGI	Pete	77
LCS	T154	77
WestBred	WB-Redhawk	77
WestBred	WB4458	77
WestBred	Winterhawk	77
OGI	Doublestop CL Plus	80
OGI	Iba	80
LCS	LCS Mint	80
OGI	Ruby Lee	80
LCS	T158	80
WestBred	WB-Grainfield	80
CWRF	Brawl CL Plus	83
OGI	Centerfield	83
OSU Experimentals
	OK11754WF	69
	OK10728W	74
	OK09520	77
	OK08707W-19C13	80
	OK09125	83
	OK10805W	83
	OK10126	86
	Average	77

First hollow stem update 03/05/2014

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Amanda De Oliveira Silva

First hollow stem is the optimal time to remove cattle from wheat pasture (full explanation). We measure first hollow in our September-sown wheat forage plots at Stillwater each year, and normally have approximately 50% of varieties at or past first hollow stem by March 1st. I have posted first hollow stem measurements from these plots in a table at the end of this blog. No varieties are currently at first hollow stem at Stillwater, but I anticipate the small amount of moisture gained from recent snow and warming temperatures will spur onset of first hollow stem over the next week or so. We will take another set of measurements on March 10 and report the results on this blog.

Keep in mind that the numbers reported from Stillwater are likely behind those being observed in southern Oklahoma and ahead of those observed in northern Oklahoma. Dillon Butchee in the Altus area reported finding first hollow stem in Jagger last week. The First Hollow Stem Advisor on the Oklahoma Mesonet indicates that early varieties in southern Oklahoma are likely past first hollow stem and that early varieties in central Oklahoma will reach this point within a week. Keep in mind the one week projection uses historical weather conditions which exceed our current forecast. Cooler than normal conditions will not last forever, though, and my advice is to move cattle off of wheat pasture in southern Oklahoma yesterday, start moving them off of wheat pasture in central Oklahoma today, and move cattle off wheat pasture in northern Oklahoma next week.

Probability of first hollow stem for early varieties 03/05/2014

One week projected probability of first hollow stem for early varieties 03/05/2014

Variety	cm of hollow stem 03/05/2014
Endurance	0.00
Deliver	0.00
Pete	0.24
OK Bullet	0.00
OK Rising	0.00
Billings	0.62
Ruby Lee	0.04
Garrison	0.22
Duster	0.00
Gallagher	0.39
Iba	0.00
Everest	0.29
Jackpot	0.12
Doans	0.00
Greer	0.31
CJ	0.02
SY Southwind	0.11
Exp F14	0.03
Armour	0.22
WB-Cedar	0.51
WB-Redhawk	0.66
WB-Grainfield	0.10
Winterhawk	0.09
WB4458	0.00
T153	0.00
T154	0.23
T158	0.02
LCS Mint	0.02
LCS Wizard	0.02
LCH11-109	0.11
LCH11-1117	0.10
LCH11-1130	0.16
TAM 112	0.14
TAM 113	0.77
Byrd	0.12
Brawl CL Plus	0.00
Centerfield	0.00
Doublestop CL Plus	0.03
OK09125	0.00
OK09520	0.03
OK10126	0.00
OK08707W-19C13	0.02
OK10805W	0.02
OK10728W	0.02
OK11754WF	0.77
Average	0.15

First hollow stem nearing

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Amanda De Oliveira Silva

First hollow stem occurs just prior to jointing and is the optimal time to remove cattle from wheat pasture. Given the warm forecast for the next two weeks, it is likely that we will start seeing first hollow stem in Oklahoma wheat fields. Grazing past first hollow stem can reduce wheat grain yield by as much as 5% per day and the added cattle gains are not enough to offset the value of the reduced wheat yield.