Success StoryMonitoring Spring Conditions that Contribute to Wheat Freeze Damage



Monitoring Spring Conditions that Contribute to Wheat Freeze Damage

Author: Carrie Knott

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Grains

Outcome: Initial Outcome

As climate variability becomes more extreme, spring growing conditions in winter wheat have also become more extreme. These extreme conditions are more routinely resulting in spring temperatures that can result in damage to the wheat crop. To provide immediate information to wheat producers, preliminary work has been initiated to monitor soil surface temperatures in wheat fields-including several farmer fields across the state. From two years of data, we have been able to communicate to producers that the temperature at the soil surface, where the wheat growing point resides, has not fallen to or below temperatures that could cause freeze damage or death to the wheat plant's growing point despite air temperatures that should have resulted in damage to the wheat crop. This information is essential to producers that are making management decisions about whether additional inputs should be added to the wheat crop or if the wheat crop should be terminated. This information has been helpful the past two years for all ~400,000 acres that wheat is produced in KY annually. It has been shared in blog posts, newsletter articles and on social media.






Stories by Carrie Knott


Providing information that allows producers to make informed Sulfur Management decisions in Soybean

about 4 years ago by Carrie Knott

Despite considerable research findings from the Soils Working Group that Sulfur fertility does not c... Read More


Reducing Soybean Seeding Rate for Daviess County Producer

about 4 years ago by Carrie Knott

For the last six years I have discussed agronomic practices that would increase profitability of soy... Read More


Stories by Plant and Soil Sciences


Small Horse Farm Improves Forage from UK Equine Pasture Evaluation Program

Small Horse Farm Improves Forage from UK Equine Pasture Evaluation Program

about 4 years ago by Jimmy Henning

In 2016, Paul and Melita Knapper were the first farm to be enrolled in the RCPP Overgrazing and Soil... Read More


Fescue eradication and improved management increases profits for Central Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm

Fescue eradication and improved management increases profits for Central Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm

about 4 years ago by Jimmy Henning

A central Kentucky thoroughbred horse farm experienced a high incidence of fescue toxicosis symptoms... Read More