Despite the cold, winter weather and a difference in the fields planted earlier, the Texas wheat crop is promising. Compared to fields planted in mid-November, wheat planted in late October is about twice as big, tillering well and showing a more intense green color, according to Southwest Farm Press.
Texas farmers also aren’t affected by disease as much this year.
But farmers are slightly concerned about their limited rotation options. Persistent drought conditions over the last few years prevented farmers from utilizing their ideal corn-wheat rotations, forcing them to plant wheat behind wheat.
“Also, with the drought as bad as it has been for the past few years, I haven’t rotated as I should have. On those thin soils, wheat is a better choice than corn. For the long-term, that’s not a good option, though. I’ve had corn on corn for several years, too. I hope to get back to a better rotation, but I can’t plant corn on rocky ground,” said Collin County wheat and corn farmer Butch Aycock.