Evaluate winter wheat stands once stands have greened up and started to grow.  Stand yield potential is correlated to plants per square foot.  Penn State Extension offers the following method for those stand counts.  “Count the number of plants in the three-foot length. Repeat this at several random locations that represent the field condition and determine the average. Multiply this number by 4 and then divide by the number that is your row width. For example, 40 plants (per 3 ft.), X 4 / 7 = 23 plants per square foot. Twenty to thirty (20-30) plants per square foot is considered adequate for maximum yield. If the number of plants per square foot is less than 12-14, consider replanting to another crop.”

Rory Lewandowski is an OSU Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722.

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