Despite the rainfall expected across Ohio this week, wheat fields will eventually firm up and the topdressing of nitrogen fertilizer will commence. There is usually a window of time, typically around the last week of March or the first week of April, when wheat fields are firm enough to support manure application equipment. By this date, wheat fields have broken dormancy and are actively pulling moisture and nutrients from the soil.

Wheat has already reached green-up across the state so spring nitrogen may be applied anytime fields are fit. Keep in mind that research has shown no yield reduction as long as nitrogen is applied before Feekes GS 7 (two visible nodes).