There is much talk of an upswing in fall wheat acres in Ontario this fall.   The benefits of wheat in a crop rotation are many:  1) spreads the workload, both of planting and harvest 2) a break from corn and soybeans whereby wheat brings many positives to soil structure and health 3) it presents the opportunity to use different herbicide modes of action on weeds and get away from the traditional corn and soybean herbicide families.  4) there are good economic opportunities in wheat production 5) wheat provide the opportunity to underseed red clover

The one item that all the wheat experts agree on is the importance of a high quality seed-applied phosphorus starter fertilizer being applied at wheat planting.  Phosphorus is critical for early plant development and the benefits are proven regardless of the level of phosphorus in the soil.  Broadcast phosphorus doesn’t in any manner act as a starter and it can have serious environmental impacts.

ALPINE G24 applied in-furrow is the preferred form of phosphorus on the Ontario wheat crop for many reasons.  Being a high quality liquid makes it easy to handle and it’s not corrosive to equipment.  ALPINE’s liquid applicator kits are adaptable to all the common drills and insure accurate application.  The 80/20 ortho/poly content of ALPINE G24 also gives the growing plant readily available phosphorus to get it off to a quick start.

In 14 years and 236 replications and wheat starter trials in Ontario, ALPINE G24 has brought an average of 7 bu/ac increase in yield compared to using no starter fertilizer.  At current prices of fertilizer and wheat, this gain represents approximately and 33% ROI.

Hooking a wheat drill up with an ALPINE applicator kit is simple and provides an excellent payback as well as an improved wheat crop.

– Ken