As harvest is rolling across Illinois, some farmers may be turning their attention to wheat planting, particularly across southern Illinois.
Related: Tips For Most Effectively Planting Winter Wheat
One thing to check out? The Hessian fly-free date. Says Illinois county extension director John Fulton, the term comes from the date after which damage from the Hessian fly is negligible.
"It is also the planting date range which typically gives the best yields of wheat for a variety of reasons, including less damage from Septoria leaf spot and barley yellow dwarf virus," he explains.
The female Hessian fly is approximately one-eighth-inch long and emits a sex pheromone from her ovipositor to attract males. USDA photo by Scott Bauer.
Waiting until the Hessian fly-free date is also a benefit for farmers who plant wheat and rye and other plants as cover crops to promote soil health, says Andy Michel, Ohio State University Extension pest expert. The goal is to avoid planting before adult Hessian flies die, to prevent them from laying eggs in wheat fields.
Below is the table of fly-free dates for Illinois counties.
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