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LAKE COUNTRY CO-OP AGRO TRUSTED ADVISOR QUICK HITTER

Key Take-Aways for Top Dressing UAN to Boost Protein in Wheat

With protein premiums rising on low protein years, top dressing UAN is becoming a more popular topic! Here are some key take-aways for top dressing your wheat for a protein boost:

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• Using a flat fan nozzle, apply a 50/50 mix of up to 10us gpa (up to 8.33imp gpa) of 28-0-0 UAN & Water – Using more water is ok, as it will reduce leaf burn.

• Avoid application during the heat of the day. Shoot for an early evening application, when temperatures cool off & wind is minimal.

• Ideal crop application timing is 5-7 days post anthesis (flowering). Do not tank mix with fungicides at this point, as FHB timing has already passed.

• The probability for a crop response is approximately 80%. A grain protein increase of only 0.5-1.0 point should be expected with the addition of 30lbs of nitrogen per acre.

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Top dressing for protein may not be justified every year, but instead on years where high protein grain is at a premium. A split application of N may help mitigate risk & manage cost - for example a yield goal of 80 bushels wheat, using the crop nutrient uptake rate of 2.3lbs/bu, requires 184lbs of actual N, which can result in a fairly substantial cost at or prior to seeding. Our “Grow Team” offers a range of both soil & tissue sampling in order to further aid in the decision of top dressing your wheat for protein. Contact your Grow Team Advisor for more information!

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To learn more, contact your Lake Country Co-op Grow Team Member. Published July 2021, Shyla.