Wheat planted good for nesting?

H

Hockeybob

Active member
After speaking to the farmer where we hunt in North Central SD, they have planted Wheat for the first time in years. My guess is because of the low corn prices? Farm is now planted in 1/3 each of corn, beans and Wheat. So my question is will planting wheat help produce more pheasants? Or, could more Nests and hens potentially be destroyed or killed during the wheat harvest?
Thanks for your opinions.

Bob
 
a late wheat harvest would be excellent.........with cool, wet weather that could happen, wheat is excellent for brooding....most Kansas pheasants are nesting in the green wheat.
 
We hunt a farm West River and winter wheat is primary nesting cover. Good thing they got some rain as the wheat was looking pretty poor before then.
 
Hockeybob said:
After speaking to the farmer where we hunt in North Central SD, they have planted Wheat for the first time in years. My guess is because of the low corn prices? Farm is now planted in 1/3 each of corn, beans and Wheat. So my question is will planting wheat help produce more pheasants? Or, could more Nests and hens potentially be destroyed or killed during the wheat harvest?
Thanks for your opinions.

Bob
Click to expand...

Winter wheat would be better for nesting versus Spring wheat.
 
Recent research has shown that the increase in winter wheat in the northern tier of states has buffered the loss of CRP and grassland habitat, reducing the expected decline in production. In western Kansas, wheat often has accounted for 70% of the nest locations. The timing of harvest and the resultant stubble height weigh in. Getting some time post-harvest without tillage or chemical can add birds as well!
 
3car said:
Winter wheat would be better for nesting versus Spring wheat.
Click to expand...

all wheat is sewn (planted) in the fall.....it comes up a few inches and stays green (although dormant) through the winter months, if it gets enough moisture or snow cover.....it's commonly referred to as winter wheat......in the spring the growth continues and you get a golden brown field with fully developed wheat heads...the hens typically build nests while the wheat is still green and tall....the chicks are usually hatched before the wheat turns brown, before harvest....usually.
 
hunter94 said:
all wheat is sewn (planted) in the fall.....it comes up a few inches and stays green (although dormant) through the winter months, if it gets enough moisture or snow cover.....it's commonly referred to as winter wheat......in the spring the growth continues and you get a golden brown field with fully developed wheat heads...the hens typically build nests while the wheat is still green and tall....the chicks are usually hatched before the wheat turns brown, before harvest....usually.
Click to expand...

mmmmmm... No there is a difference in wheat. Not all wheat is planted in the fall. I am not an agronomist but thousands of acres of spring wheat was planted this spring in my area. Some winter wheat was planted last fall but for the most part this is the northern reaches of winter wheat. It has a tough time surviving much farther north than I94 in ND.
 
3car said:
mmmmmm... No there is a difference in wheat. Not all wheat is planted in the fall. I am not an agronomist but thousands of acres of spring wheat was planted this spring in my area. Some winter wheat was planted last fall but for the most part this is the northern reaches of winter wheat. It has a tough time surviving much farther north than I94 in ND.
Click to expand...

3Car is correct. 2 types of wheat growth periods. The spring wheat is often far enough behind as to not provide enough cover for nesting at the proper time.
 
Prairie Drifter said:
3Car is correct. 2 types of wheat growth periods. The spring wheat is often far enough behind as to not provide enough cover for nesting at the proper time.
Click to expand...

sorry, my reference was aimed at Kansas.........most of their wheat is fall planted and up in plenty of time for nesting.......
 
Yeah, further north they avoid winter kill by spring planting. In the Dakota's, it is more common. Here in Kansas it is all winter wheat. It's just context:)
 
unfortunately our farmer had to spray his winter wheat and go to spring wheat and flowers. The lack of winter snow and no late winter rain did not do his wheat any favors. Now just hoping the hens found enough good nesting cover elsewhere. This was West River in SD.
 
Having just come out of a drought, I feel your pain! We have great growth right now though! Hope it translates into growing nestlings soon.
 
In laws south of Aberdeen had to spray off their winter wheat as well and put it into spring wheat. Not much snow cover for the winter wheat this year. Which I was completly fine with, don't get me wrong. I believe it saved a lot of birds from what I have seen in my travels around the state early this spring and even up to last weekend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top