The Impact of Weather Patterns on Planting Date of Wheat in North Carolina.

Since early leaf and tiller development is extremely influential on wheat yields in North Carolina, planting date is one of the most important decisions that a wheat producer can make. The foundation for high wheat yields is created by tillers that develop during the fall, since fall tillers produce larger heads than do spring tillers. When cold weather arrives early in the fall, it is essential to plant early in order to maximize as many fall tillers as possible. However, when warm fall temperatures last into December, growers can afford to delay planting until December. The ability to use weather events to predict fall weather conditions will enable one to properly select a planting date. Both El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) have shown to be a good correlation of whether a fall will be cool and wet or warm and dry. These two weather events can be used to better determine what is an appropriate planting date each year.