Extension Report

Baldwin County Office                 

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Richard Petcher                                             

Regional Extension Agent

Agronomic Crops

June 3, 2008

Wheat Harvest

     As of May 27, 2008, wheat and oat harvest is just getting started.  A few

growers started harvesting around May 19, but only on a few acres.  There are

around 60,000 to 70,000 acres to be harvested in this area.  Growers have

learned a lot this year about growing small grains.  Growers who have produced

this crop for a long time are always improving on their information base for

producing an even better crop next year.  Learning together with growers this year

has been rewarding.  We have research tests at Brewton and the Gulf Coast

Regional Extension Center.  We also have on farm research with an oat variety

test on Walt and Rod Richardson’s Farm in Leroy and an on farm early wheat

variety test with Ben and Matt Watson in Atmore and two more wheat variety tests

with Hilbert and Eric Hall near Atmore.  We soon hope to harvest these tests

plots.  We receive valuable information from these tests to pass on to growers. 

Along with this we receive a wealth of information from growers across this region

concerning their crop of wheat and oats and how they responded this year. 

Hopefully by early July, we will have the results compiled and have some excellent

information for growers for next year.  Of primary importance is variety information

for choosing your varieties for next year.  This will be very important for two

reasons.  First, the variety you choose has 70 % of your success or failure in that

one decision.  Second, it will be important to be able to order your seed early in

order to obtain the varieties that you know will work on your farm. 

     We have found Hessian flies in several counties, Baldwin, Mobile and

Washington.  There may be Hessian flies in other counties, but I have not found

any or talked with anyone who has.  We will study greatly on this before next

planting season.  Two hundred Hessian fly eggs have been sent to The USDA

Hessian fly research lab in Wisconsin to determine biotype. 

     We hope to have several grower meetings in this area during July or August. 

And we are also looking forward to compiling as much information as possible

and sending to growers via e-mail and newsletters. 

Upcoming Programs

        There will be a Financial Problems and Solutions Workshop for

grandparents raising grandchildren at the Foley Library on June 18 from 11:00

a.m.-12:30 p.m.

     Estate Planning Workshops will be held at: Atmore City Hall Auditorium

on June 17 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; Flomaton City Council Chambers on June

19 from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; and Jon Archer Agricultural Center in Mobile on

June 24 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

     Two Small Business Workshops will be held on June 26 & 27 at the Foley

Library from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

     For more information about these workshops, call Rick Zapata at 334-703-2276. 

Email address: rpetcher@aces.edu

Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.

~Back~