UI Extension cereals program

UI Extension cereals program

UI Extension offers a robust research and Extension program related to cereals. Explore the different growing regions for more information.

North Idaho

The North Idaho cereals program is based in Moscow at the Palouse Research, Extension and Education Center. The program focuses on the evaluation of cereal and grain legume cultivar performance and production and marketing of grains. Learn more about growing cereals in North Idaho.

South central and southeastern Idaho

The south central and southeast Idaho cereals program is based at the U of I Aberdeen Research and Extension Center. The program focuses on evaluation of cereal cultivar performance and study of cereal disease problems. Learn more about growing cereals in south central and southeastern Idaho.

Southwest Idaho

Nutrient management

Wheat protein affects the quality of all wheat market classes. Wheat protein is affected by weather conditions, particularly during grain fill, nutrient management, especially nitrogen, variety selection and many other factors that affect yield. Low protein in soft white wheat is normally desired, and markets will frequently have upper limits in the protein that is acceptable.

Higher protein tends to be associated with higher gluten strength and improved bread making quality. Higher protein is desired for bread making wheat such as hard red or hard white types.

Wheat protein affects the quality of all wheat, but it is particularly important for the hard wheat classes. Hard wheat market prices are generally more closely related to protein concentrations than in other market classes. Hard red spring wheat is typically the highest in protein, the highest price and the market class for which there are the greatest low protein discounts or high protein premiums.

In recent years there has been considerable interest in wheat protein issues. The higher market prices for hard red spring wheat has increased the interest among producers that produce soft white wheat.  

• Nitrogen management for hard wheat protein enhancement (PNW 578)
• Saving energy and fertilizer costs (CIS 1127)
• Southern Idaho fertilizer guide — irrigated winter wheat (CIS 373)
• Southern Idaho fertilizer guide — irrigated winter barley (CIS 1082) 

With the loss of dry ammonium nitrate fertilizer due to security concerns, there will be greater reliance on dry urea N for top dressing, banding and broadcasting N. Urea can be an effective N source but does have some characteristics that potentially can reduce its effectiveness under some conditions. Understanding urea and its limitations can better enable us to maximize its effectiveness and save fertilizer expenses.

Publication EB-0209 from Montana State University provides a detailed description of urea's properties and the conditions that lead to the volatile loss of N. It also includes southern Idaho information on the effectiveness relative to ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate top dressed for winter wheat or barley.

Water management

Few Idaho environments and small grain production systems can support maximum production without supplemental watering, especially in southern Idaho. In all systems it is generally the most limiting factor to both production and quality. In irrigated systems it is a significant production cost if not the single greatest production expense of an enterprise. Optimal irrigation maximizes the economic returns to the enterprise while minimizing adverse effects on water quality.

Irrigation has substantial effects on other crop production elements including fertilizer use efficiency, diseases and weed control. Irrigation needs to be considered in relation to these other elements. This is particularly critical for soluble and mobile nitrogen (N) such as nitrates that are easily leached with the wetting front beyond the reach of the root system. Excessive irrigation leads to additional or higher N applications, reduced financial returns and greater potential for ground water contamination.

• Irrigating with limited water (pdf)
• Irrigation scheduling aids and tools  
• Irrigation scheduling using water-use tables (CIS 1039)  
• Late season watering (pdf)