Potential Freeze on Texas Wheat, April 21--AgriLife Resources

Here's some important information shared with us by Calvin Trostle, Ph.D.,Professor & Extension Agronomist, Texas A&M AgriLife State Hemp & Sunflower Specialist, Dept. of Soil & Crop Sciences
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Thanks,

Blayne

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In partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension small grains specialist Dr. Fernando Guillen-Portal (979) 845-4826, fernando.guillen@tamu.edu, Soil & Crop Sciences AgriLife Extension brings you this update.

National Weather Service has issued a series of freeze watches/freeze warnings/hard freeze warnings in Texas generally from Paris to Weatherford to Abilene to Seminole and all areas north.  Some temperatures in the northwest Texas South Plains and Panhandle are predicted to drop into the mid-20s on Wednesday morning.

The vulnerability of wheat to a combination of freezing temperature, its duration, and other factors (canopy closure, lack of soil moisture, position in the landscape like low areas, wind) will determine the actual impact.

http://wheatfreezeinjury.tamu.edu has the information you need to share with inquiries and refer concerned growers to.  On the right side is a link to “Wheat Freeze Injury in Texas” (ESC-026).  This includes how to assess freeze damage in Texas wheat and other small grains, which often involves splitting the stem to find the growing point.

The chart below from Wheat Freeze Injury in Texas catalogs the temperatures at which we may anticipate injury. 

Please refer inquiries to the above website.  Contact your regional Extension specialists if you need help with producer questions.

“Information to help Texas producers make better management decisions.”

Calvin Trostle, Ph.D.
Professor & Extension Agronomist

Texas A&M AgriLife State Hemp & Sunflower Specialist
Dept. of Soil & Crop Sciences
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center
1102 East Drew Street (FM 1294) / Lubbock, TX  79403-6603
Phone: 806-723-8432 / Cell: 806-777-0247 / Fax: 806-723-8499
ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu
Lubbock A&M AgriLife Center, http://lubbock.tamu.edu (most of my reports & presentations are here)

Crop Testing Program (Varieties & Hybrid Trials for Texas), http://varietytesting.tamu.edu

Texas A&M Univ. Dept. of Soil & Crop Sciences, http://soilcrop.tamu.edu

 

   “Wheat Freeze Injury in Texas” (ESC-026).