Scott Vandehogen
Seed Specialist
Why Plant Winter Wheat?
Thinking about planting winter wheat? Here’s why it’s a smart move for your farm:
- Soil Protection: Wheat provides excellent ground cover, reducing erosion and improving soil health.
- Rotation Benefits: Adding wheat to your crop rotation spreads out workload while helping break pest and disease cycles.
At AGRIS Co-operative, we carry the optimum seed varieties to help you maximize yield and profitability in your winter wheat crop. Here are a few key tips to set your field up for success:
- Variety
Choose high-yielding, locally adapted varieties like Blaze, Fuze, or Swoop to maximize your returns. - Certified Seed
Start with certified seed to ensure variety purity, strong germination, and freedom from impurities such as glyphosate-resistant weeds. - Seed Treatment
Protect your investment with a proven fungicide/insecticide seed treatment. All AGRIS wheat seed comes treated with Cruiser Vibrance Quattro—a powerful blend of four fungicides and one insecticide that safeguards against soilborne diseases and early-season pests. - Fertility
Apply starter fertilizer with phosphorus to support root development and early plant growth. Talk with your AGRIS Crop Sales Specialist (CSS) and make sure your soil tests are current to achieve maximum yields. - Planting Date
For most of the AGRIS trading area, aim to plant by October 15th at a rate of 1.6 million seeds per acre. If planting after this window, increase the seeding rate by 150,000–200,000 seeds per acre for each week beyond October 15th. - Seed Depth
Target a depth of 1–1.5 inches to ensure strong seed-to-soil contact and rapid, even emergence. - Fall Weed Control
Fall is the most effective time to tackle weeds in wheat—especially tough perennials like Canada fleabane. Your AGRIS CSS can guide you through the best pre-emerge or post-emerge application for your field conditions. - Residue Management
Evenly distribute crop residue from the combine to promote uniform wheat emergence across the field.
Final Thoughts
AGRIS Co-operative has the wheat varieties you need—available in bags, totes, or bulk—and treated with the right protection to help you achieve your best crop yet. Contact your AGRIS Crop Sales Specialist today to secure your optimum variety and get your winter wheat off to the strongest start.