Time To Worry About LMA and Falling Numbers Approaching

After a good spring, weather wise for Northwest wheat growers, Dr. Camille Steber with USDA says we are now entering the window in which LMA and Falling Numbers could become a problem.

“The next two weeks should be telling for Central Washington, and the first couple of weeks of July will tell us something about what is likely to happen in Eastern Washington.”

Will Falling Numbers be a problems like what the region has dealt with over the past two years?  Steber said that is a question she is unwilling to answer. Noting problems with LMA and Falling Numbers is something you can only look at from a historical standpoint, rather then trying to forecast.  Steber told the Washington Ag Network at this point, there’s very little a grower can do to combat Falling Numbers.

“If there is a big change in temperature, you can’t tuck the wheat in with an electric blanket and you can’t hold an umbrella over your wheat fields the only thing you can do is look for genetically resistant varieties.”

Steber noted more and more growers are adjusting their operations, and planting varieties that handle the LMA and Falling Numbers better.

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