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The recent increase in wheat prices is gaining the interest of some Iowa farmers, but planting spring wheat is not without challenges. Iowa State University agronomy extension has released a spring wheat in Iowa fact sheet to help farmers make informed decisions.

Lance Gibson, associate professor of agronomy at Iowa State, said careful seed selection and early planting are key to spring wheat success in Iowa.

"Iowa was a major producer of spring wheat from the mid-1800s until the early part of the twentieth century," Gibson said. "It can be a viable crop in Iowa, but the high moisture environment within the state poses challenges."

The fact sheet provides Iowa farmers with a template for increasing the chances of success when growing spring wheat. Some of the recommendations include identifying markets before planting, proper fertilization, selecting disease resistant varieties and planting early.

The fact sheet can be found at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/AG202.pdf or by contacting your local Iowa State University Extension office.

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