heat harvest was progressing nicely as you move
northward in Indiana. The Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service on Monday
July 7 reported that 95% of the wheat had been harvested in southern Indiana
and 46% in central Indiana with only 1% harvested in northern Indiana. However,
the rains began to fall on July 4 and continued a week with at least nine
weather reports showing 10 or more inches for the week. Most of the heavy rains
fell in the northern one-half of the state where the wheat was yet to be
harvested.
Wheat condition varies across the northern Indiana. Much of the wheat is still standing quite nicely in spite of the heavy rains. However in areas where the rain was accompanied by high winds, the wheat is lodged flat on the ground. Other fields in areas of heavy rainfall may have had standing water that covered the heads. The latter two cases may result in total loss of the wheat as a result of rotted or moldy grain.
In areas where the wheat did not lodge and the grain had dried down to near harvest moisture (Feekes' 11.4), the grain may sprout in the head. Most of our soft red winter wheat varieties have reasonably good resistance to sprouting because of an extended dormancy period following maturity. As soon as soil conditions will permit harvest, the wheat should be harvested and dried if necessary to stop or prevent sprouting. If a serious sprouting problem occurs, the wheat will be discounted significantly or in some cases it may be rejected. The milling industry does not want to mill sprouted wheat since the resulting flour is of poorer quality and will have shorter shelf life. Repeated wetting and drying of wheat once it has dried will result in a reduction in test weight
The incidence of head scab is variable across northern Indiana. In fields with considerable head scab, the air should be increased to blow as many of the shriveled kernels out the back of the combine as possible. These low test weight "tombstones" also present the possibility of vomitoxin in the grain and should be removed.