UC Small Grains Blog

The 2022-23 cropping season got off to a wet start throughout most of California. Across the main small grain growing regions of the state, rainfall is 158% of average to date (Figure 1), with 164% and 197% of average in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, respectively.

Geese have been heavily foraging again in small grains and alfalfa fields this winter. Drought conditions led to heavy geese damage to Sacramento Valley fields in 2021. Why are they feeding heavily on crops again this year? Rice plays an important role in providing foraging habitat for geese.

The growth stage of a crop is a critical piece of information for growers and agronomists. For small grain crops like wheat and triticale, many field management decisions are sensitive to the stage of crop development.

Although much of this year's wheat has been planted, the cost of fertilizer and an unpredictable rainy season mean it's never a bad time to learn more about how to improve nitrogen management in small grains.

Cereal rye, triticale and oats are commonly used as cover crops in the Salinas Valley in fall grown (Aug/Sept to Oct/Nov) and overwintered (Oct/Nov to Feb/March) planting slots. A key issue for growers is when to terminate the cover crop.