July 20, 2022 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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4- The Elk City News Agriculture July 20, 2022 Wheat harvest recap: the drought was ugly and a few other takeaways ‘The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Services estimated Oklahoma’s harvest at 64.8 million bushels of wheat this year, which is down 44% from 2021. Photo by Todd Johnson, OSU Agricultural Communications Services By Gail Ellis for Oklahoma was expected and other input costs, Ander- not limit my crop to nitrogen around 27 bushels, down 12son said many producers can because that can help improve STILLWATER - Oklahoma’s bushels from last year. still make a profit if they sell water use efficiency,” Silva said. Cilantro ready to be harvested. Photo courtesy of MelindaMy- hard red winter wheat harvest “On top of rain, we also had their wheat for at least $8.75 ers.com Research conducted by Brian is complete as farmers close some issues with diseases like or $9 a bushel except for those Extend Your Cilantro the book on a season plagued Fusarium root/crown rot, that in southwest Oklahoma where Arnall, OSU Extension spe- by drought. impacted fields and added to yields were extremely low or cialist for precision nutrient did not exist. In the current management, suggests pro- Harvest and Enjoyment Amanda de Oliveira Silva, the variability we saw,” Silva Oklahoma State University Ex- said. “We had brown wheat volatile market, daily price ducers can apply nitrogen later tension small grains specialist, mites, which are usually not fluctuations and overall input in the season than original- said yields varied across the typical but occur in years that costs are the biggest factors. ly thought—past jointing in state depending on rainfall. are really dry.” “Looking at next year, the wheat—allowing a wider win- By Melinda Myers seeds are ground and used in Many fields in southwest Okla- How did the state’s poor big questions are how high homa were abandoned, and harvest affect wheat market will wheat prices stay and how dow of opportunity to manage breads, cakes, pickling spic- other dry areas reported any- prices? Kim Anderson, OSU much will fertilizer costs ac- a crop with nitrogen. Cilantro is a favorite in- es, and Asian food. Store in where from 10 to 25 bushels Extension grain marketing count for a producer's total When planning for 2023, gredient in guacamole, ta- sealed containers until ready per acre. specialist, said the Oklahoma production costs?” he said. “At Silva said producers will have cos, rice dishes and of course to use. “The state average is around hard red winter wheat crop is the present time, the market difficult decisions to make salsa. But as summer tem- Otherwise allow the 20 to 30 bushels, but a few ar- not significant enough to affect is predicting an $8.50 wheaton input costs, such as nitro- peratures climb, the cilantro seeds to drop to the ground eas that received timely rains world wheat prices, but wheat price for the 2023 Oklahoma gen, and need a conservative quickly goes to seed. This can in the garden and grow new received 65 bushels,” she said. in Oklahoma, Texas and south- wheat harvest.” spending strategy. be frustrating but using all cilantro plants to harvest “The north-central area did ern Kansas is usually the first Next year is also on Sil- “It was a tough year, but our parts of the plant or growing and enjoy. Cilantro seeds well, but the Panhandle was bread flour to be harvested for va's mind as she and the OSU a heat tolerant cilantro-fla- just very drought stressed. the new marketing year, which producers are resilient and did wheat team evaluate what sprout readily when soil tem- Many farmers out there didn’t impacts regional markets. producers can learn from the very well, considering the chal- vored substitute can help. peratures are 55 to 68°F and see a rain since planting and “In early June, wheat was 2022 harvest. Certain wheat lenges,” she said. Gardeners in cooler cli- the plants can withstand a basically went the entire sea- around $11 a bushel for the varieties are bred to thrive in OSU Extension uses re- mates can sow seeds every light frost. son without rain.” first three weeks of harvest, dry conditions, but she said in search-based information to three to four weeks through- Don't forget to harvest Recent data from the U.S. but then the crop moved into some cases, this year’s drought help all Oklahomans solve lo- out the summer for continu- the roots and use them for Department ofAgriculture Na- Kansas and more wheat en- was so severe that it was im- cal issues and concerns, pro- al harvests. Those with hot- seasoning Thai and Vietnam- tional Agricultural Statistics tered the pipeline. Russia also possible for any variety to mote leadership and manage ter summers will have the ese food. These taste best Service shows this year’s Okla- reported that it was going to prosper. However, there were a best results growing cilantro homa wheat production was export above average wheat few takeaways. resources wisely throughout in the cooler temperatures of when harvested in fall. the state’s 77 counties. Most In the future, consider forecast at 64.8 million bush- this year, and we saw a $3 de- “With variety and manage- spring, fall and even winter. els, which is down 44% from crease in price,” Anderson said. ment, depending on environ- information is available at lit- buying seeds of slow bolting Grow cilantro in full sun or 2021. The NASS average yield Despite higher fuel, fertilizer mental conditions, I would tle to no cost. light shade as temperatures cilantro varieties like Slow- Bolt, Leisure and the 2006 climb and moist well-drained All-America Selections award Glance-N-Go app the best tool soil for best results. winner Delfino Cilantro. Mulching the soil to keep Or try growing Papalo, the roots cool and moist will also known as summer ci- for aphid infestation help delay flowering, Avoid lantro, in next year’s garden. overwatering that can lead to It has a similar but stronger root rot. flavor than cilantro with a Harvest the leaves when By Alisa Boswell-Gore issues in soybean fields this year,” Royer and perhaps apply in the evening to pro- they are four to six inches tall hint of citrus and mint and said. long the life of the insecticid thrives in hot weather. You and before the plants flower STILLWATER - Summertime equals Many pests, such as grasshoppers, love For the latest information on insecticide for the best flavor. Harvest as will only need one or two aphid season for Oklahoma producers, hot weather, so other new pests have products registered for control of pests in plants as this annual grows popped up recently. Head worms and needed a third of the plant at but Oklahoma State University Ag Re- sorghum or soybeans, contact your local one time to allow it to keep up to five feet tall and sever- search and Extension specialists are here aphids have been reported since 2014, OSU Extension county office and consult al feet wide. Harvest young to help. said Royer, but added to the mix this year the 2002 OSU Extension Agents’ Hand- producing or cut the whole leaves for the best flavor Although many of today’s crop varieties are false chinch bugs in soybean fields. He book of Insect, Plant Disease, and Weed plant back to an inch above and use only 1/2 or 1/3 the are resistant to sugarcane aphids, it’s still said the new pest was primarilya problemControl. To learn how to manage hickory the ground and wait for it to amount of cilantro called for important to keep an eye out for these lit- for producers who did not exercise weed shuckworm infestations in pecans, read regrow. tle green sorghum lovers. Tom Royer, OSU control before planting. Store freshly cut leaves in recipes, the latest OSU Pest e-Alert. integrated pest management coordinator, “Those are things that need to be like a bouquet of flowers in You may need to start OSU Agriculture is dedicated to im- said the best way to combat aphids is to watched, so you need to get out into your proving the quality of life of Oklahomans a glass of fresh water. Place your own plants from seeds use the Glance-N-Go app developed by crops and pay attention to what's going through science-based information and in the refrigerator to use for if none of the garden centers OSU scientists several years ago. It helps on,” Royer said. “False chinch bugs tend to education. It is comprised of the Ferguson the upcoming week. Hang in your area sell plants. Start producers determine if a grain sorghum leaves upside down to dry or seeds indoors or directly in congregate in spotty crowds.” College of Agriculture and two state agen- field needs to be treated with insecticide Young soybean seedlings are at risk cies: OSU Ag Research and OSU Exten- the garden once the danger from an infestation of aphids by sampling when large numbers of chinch bugs are freeze. Just wash the leaves, sion.whether they are onsite or not. pat dry and place in a freezer of frost has passed and the two leaves from each of three select plants attacking the plants. Producers can often “This virtual fencing system is probably bag or air-tight container in soil is warm. at a sample location. spot-spray the insect swarms with an in- going to go commercial within the three “It's backed by research,” Royer said of secticide, such as bifenthrin. When they the freezer. Or chop up the Extend your cilantro har- years we're doing this project,” Reuter the app. “It’s simple system to use, and it become adults, chinch bugs will likely fly rinsed cilantro into small- vest and enjoyment by utiliz- said. “There will be a lot of producers in- saves a lot of time with sampling. We only away. er pieces, place in ice cube ing every part of the plant. terested in applying it and who will have want fields to be treated if they need to be, “T've even heard about roly-polies get- questions about it, so we will likely keep trays and top with a splash Adjust your cilantro growing and we want to save a scout or producer ting into soybeans, and that’s a new one of water before placing in the techniques as well as plant it as part of the management system at time.” on me,” Royer said. “Someone called me selection to help beat the this year and said they had issues with our research ranch so we can answer ques- freezer. Producers enter into the app the es- heat. timated cost to treat the field for aphid those bugs coming in and taking out some tions producers have about it.” As temperatures rise, infestation and the price they hope to get of their stands.” OSU Ag Research is Oklahoma's premier the plant will flower and set for their crop. Then they collect samples of Once soybean plants have matured, ro- research and technology development seed. Do not discard it but ‘Melinda Myers has written the crop until the app tells them whether ly-polies cannot affect the crop, but they agency in agriculture, natural resources rather look at utilizing the more than 20 gardening books, they should treat or not treat for aphid in- can damage the plants as seedlings by and the life sciences. other parts of this plant. En- including the recently released festation. chewing on them. Royer said since they ‘This work is supported by the Conser- joy the beauty and flavor of Midwest Gardener's Handbook, “You're not counting aphids; you're de- are an uncommon problem, there is not vation Innovation Grants program at the lacy white flowers that 2nd Edition and Small Space termining whethera particular plant has much research-based information on how USDA's Natural Resources Conservation also attract beneficial insects Gardening. She hosts The Great on its two leaves 50 or more aphids, If it’s to control them, but current weather con- Service. Courses "How to Grow Any- to the garden. 50 or more, it's infested,” Royer said. ditions will likely kill many of these bugs ‘This project has been funded by the U.S. After the white flowers thing” DVD instant video series The Glance-N-Go app is available to because they do not do well in hot, dry Environmental Protection Agency under fade, green seeds appear. and the nationally syndicated download for free on the Apple and Goo- conditions. assistance agreement MX-02D00721-0 to Wait for the plants and seeds Melinda's Garden Moment TV gle Play stores. “If a problem is significant and per- Oklahoma State University. The contents Aphids aren't the only problem in Okla- sistent, products containing lambda-cy- of this document do not necessarily re- to turn brown when using & radio program. Myers is a col- homa crops this summer with some new halothrin, bifenthrin, zeta-cypermethrin flect the views and policies of the EPA, nor them as coriander. Cut off umnist and contributing editor insect visitors arriving on the scene. or some combination of those products does the EPA endorse trade names or rec- the seed heads, place in a pa- for Birds & Blooms magazine “We're always concerned about grain should work,” Royer said. “I would suggest ommend the use of commercial products per bag, and allow the seeds and her website is www.Melin- sorghum pests, but I've also seen some using as much water carrier as possible mentioned in this document. to drop to the bottom. The daMyers.com.