Cattle should be removed from wheat pastures when the crop reaches first hollow stem (FHS). Grazing past this stage can severely affect wheat yields. For a full explanation, please refer to the companion article in this eUpdate, “Optimal time to remove cattle from wheat pastures: First hollow stem.”
First hollow stem update
To screen for FHS during this important time in the growing season, the K-State Extension Wheat and Forage crew measures FHS on a weekly basis in 12 different commonly grown wheat varieties in Kansas. The varieties are in a September-sown replicated trial at the South Central Experiment Field near Hutchinson.
Ten main stems are split open per variety per replication (Figure 1), for a total of 40 stems monitored per variety. The average length of the hollow stem is reported for each variety in Table 1. As of March 2, no variety had reached first hollow stem (1.5 cm), the threshold for cattle removal from wheat pastures. However, all varieties had initiated stem elongation. Special attention should be given to Zenda, which presented a mean hollow stem length of 1.48 cm, indicating that it is likely to reach first hollow stem by the time this report is published.
Figure 1. Ten main wheat stems were split open per replication per variety to estimate first hollow stem for this report, for a total of 40 stems (10 per repetition) split per variety. Photo by Luiz Pradella, K-State PhD student.
Table 1. Length of hollow stem measured between February 17 and March 2, 2026, of 12 wheat varieties sown in late September 2025 at the South Central Experiment Field near Hutchinson. The critical FHS length is 1.5 cm (about a half-inch or the diameter of a dime).
|
|
First Hollow Stem (cm) |
||
|
Variety |
02/17/2026 |
2/23/2026 |
3/2/2026 |
|
AP CP17CU3493#009 |
0 |
0.01 |
0.63 |
|
AP Sunbird |
0 |
0.02 |
0.29 |
|
AP24 AX |
0 |
0.01 |
0.59 |
|
CP7017AX |
0 |
0.03 |
0.35 |
|
CP7599CLP |
0 |
0.00 |
0.55 |
|
Gallagher |
0 |
0.03 |
0.76 |
|
KS Bill Snyder |
0 |
0.00 |
0.11 |
|
KS Providence |
0 |
0.00 |
0.33 |
|
KS20HD134 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.08 |
|
KS211130 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.03 |
|
PlainsGold Sheridan |
0 |
0.00 |
0.17 |
|
Zenda |
0 |
0.17 |
1.48 |
|
Mean |
0 |
0.02 |
0.45 |
We will report the progress of first hollow stem during the next few weeks until all varieties are past this stage. Additionally, first hollow stem is generally achieved within a few days from when the stem starts to elongate, depending on temperature and moisture conditions. Therefore, we advise producers to closely monitor their wheat pastures. Since each farm/crop reality is unique at the field level.
The intention of this report is to provide producers with an update on the progress of first hollow stem development in different wheat varieties. Producers should use this information as a guide, but it is extremely important to monitor FHS from an ungrazed portion of each wheat pasture to make the decision to remove cattle from wheat pastures.
Romulo Lollato, Wheat and Forages Specialist
lollato@ksu.edu
Luiz Otavio Pradella, PhD Student – Wheat and Forages
pradella@ksu.edu