North Carolina wheat: Initial freeze injury assessment

Randy Weisz, North Carolina Extension Wheat Specialist, sent us the following assessment of damage to wheat in his state after the Easter weekend freeze:

Drs. Cowger, Murphy, and I have been looking at wheat these past few days. We've gotten to the Piedmont and Coastal Plains where reports suggest the worst damage occurred. (Click here for assessment photos taken this week.)

I want to emphasize that it is TOO SOON TO TELL exactly what has happened to the small grains crop. The following observations are initial best-guesses. We will have a better idea in 10 days to 2 weeks.

• It appears that heads that had emerged by the time the freeze hit last weekend are lost and will most likely not produce any grain.
• Heads that were partially emerged from the boot may still produce grain at the lower positions that were partially protected by the boot.
• Heads that were still completely in the boot may have made it through the freeze. This will become more apparent by the end of this week. These heads need to be opened up, and the anthers examined. Detailed pictures on how to do that are in the guide I sent out earlier this week. Late heading varieties, or perhaps even medium heading varieties that were planted late are likely in this category.
• Wheat that was still in the boot stage may still suffer head damage as the heads try to emerge from the boot.

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