Managing Late Tillers in Wheat and Barley

There are no straightforward answers when it comes to managing late tillers. Each farm has different needs, equipment, time, target markets, harvest window, and other factors that impact harvest management decisions. However, there are a few factors we can consider when developing a reasonable late tiller management plan.

The first step is to consider the target market the grain will be sold into. Will the market destination tolerate greens? If the target market is for malt barley or the high protein wheat export market, the tolerance for green kernels will be much lower than grain destined for the feed market.

The next step is to consider cleaning and storage risks. If the grain in question needs to be stored, greens with high moisture from late tillers will increase the risk of spoilage and quality issues. Most grain with late green seed will need to be sold into the feed market unless the cost of clean- ing the seed might be worthwhile for certain high-value markets or if the seed is intended to be used for planting next year’s crop. More information on storage management of cereals can be found here.

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