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.
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.