Wheat Pete's Word – RealAgriculture

<p>Hold onto your hats! Ontario got a taste of Western Canadian wind this week, and it left a trail of crop damage in its wake. On this episode of The Word, host Peter Johnson breaks down the severe weather impacts, discusses critical safety measures for pulling out stuck machinery, and dives deep into late-season agronomy... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/09/windstorms-stuck-equipment-safety-and-outsmarting-the-weather-wheat-petes-word-sept-9/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Say it ain't so! Only 41 bushels per acre soybeans and 155 bushels per acre corn? Pete's own harvest predictions are in, and they aren't great for some areas. But there's so much more to talk about on this week's episode of Wheat Pete's Word! Also, on the Word: Extreme weather continues to dominate across... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/09/broadcasting-risks-glowing-worms-slugs-and-fertility-decisions-wheat-petes-word-sept-2/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Can you believe it? Paisley Johnson, big brother to Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson took top honours in the 2026 International Plowing Match farmstead beautification contest. Hats off to Paisley! Meanwhile, torrential downpours and severe hail have hit parts of Ontario and the U.S. On this episode of Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson covers rapid... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/08/wheat-seeding-date-hail-damage-header-selection-plow-match-honours-wheat-petes-word-aug-26/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Right on schedule, tar spot is back in Ontario corn crops, making disease management and leaf wetness a key focus this week. Host Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson breaks down highly variable crop conditions across North America, from severe drought to drowned-out acres, and shares critical agronomic management advice for late-season disease control and cover crop... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/08/tar-spots-return-soybean-height-myths-and-n-on-forage-or-cover-oats-wheat-petes-word-aug-19-2026/">Read More</a></p>

<p>From extreme weather swings to agronomy decisions late in the season, Peter Johnson (aka Wheat Pete) is back to tackle a backlog of agronomy questions! After starting off with a heart-warming story about a proud future farmer, Pete dives straight into managing crops under severe drought and record-breaking rainfall, why ag media ranks as the... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/08/wheat-petes-word-aug-12-spider-mites-rust-rescue-apps-cover-crop-decisions-and-ph-problems/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Welcome to this (early-recorded) edition of Wheat Pete's Word for Wednesday, August 5th! Host Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson jumps right into the fun&mdash;which, in this case, means brand new insect alerts and emerging crop diseases. From budding agronomists taking out thistles with weed whackers to the absolute non-negotiable legalities of loading grain on the road,... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/08/new-insect-pests-new-barley-budding-agronomists-slug-risks-wheat-petes-word-aug-5-2026/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Welcome to this edition of Wheat Pete&rsquo;s Word! Some wheat yields in Ontario are turning out poorer than expected. Could it be dry weather or is a new pest entering the picture? On this episode, host Peter Johnson dives into wheat woes, a $10,000 fix for soil compaction, real-time tire load technology, managing severe drought... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/07/dwarf-bunt-warnings-real-time-inflation-tech-wheat-midge-trouble-wheat-petes-word-july-29-26/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Corn yields across Ontario are showing huge potential, but managing leaf disease and timing fungicide applications will be critical to capitalizing on it. On this episode of Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson breaks down crop stress, market shifts, disease watch-outs, and cover crop management. Plus, get the latest insights on dry-down struggles in wheat,... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/07/peak-corn-yield-potential-fighting-diseases-and-cover-crop-choices-wheat-petes-word-ep-july-22/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Holy wheat, what a crop! At least in some fields, says Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson in this week&rsquo;s edition of Wheat Pete&rsquo;s Word. This week, we're catching up on the huge variability showing up in winter wheat yields, a flood of fungicide questions driven by wildly different moisture conditions, and practical agronomy insights on everything... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/07/harvest-surprises-fire-risks-tar-spot-and-drought-driven-decisions-wheat-petes-word-july-15/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Wheat harvest is underway in Ontario, with excellent wheat quality, but winter barley is putting up disappointing yields. What's the issue? Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson tackles that, plus plenty of questions about nitrogen, soybeans, and fungicide decisions in this week's Wheat Pete's Word episode! Have a question you'd like Wheat Pete to address or some... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/07/strong-wheat-struggling-barley-and-smarter-nitrogen-decisions-wheat-petes-word-july-8-2026/">Read More</a></p>

<p>&nbsp; Happy Canada Day! This week, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson celebrates Canada while tackling a wide range of timely crop production topics, from correcting last week's dogbane recommendation, to assessing hail damage, managing herbicides in extreme heat, and evaluating nitrogen losses after heavy rainfall. He also shares a firsthand lesson from Phytophthora root rot in... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/07/heat-hail-herbicides-and-a-lesson-in-trusting-ai-wheat-petes-word-july-1/">Read More</a></p>

<p>What a season so far! From hail, flooding, and saturated soils to herbicide injury and drone application debates, there&rsquo;s no shortage of agronomy topics to tackle this week on Wheat Pete's Word. Your host Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson covers everything from edible bean herbicide damage and fungicide application by drone to yellow soybeans, volunteer crops,... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/06/damaged-beans-spray-decisions-and-late-double-crop-options-wheat-petes-word-june-24-2026/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Warm June temperatures pushed crops ahead in a hurry, but cooler conditions have many cereal growers hoping for a strong grain-fill finish. This week, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson covers everything from the value of wheat in the rotation and booming forage yields to armyworm alerts, soybean insects, sulphur deficiency, weed control timing, and nitrogen management.... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/06/armyworms-sulphur-shortages-cool-weather-and-soaring-crops-wheat-petes-word-june-17/">Read More</a></p>

<p>It's early June, and the west, as well as the east, are a tale of extremes: dry soils and surprisingly strong nitrogen levels in Ontario, flooding in parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, drought concerns in the U.S., and plenty of crop management questions in between. From late-season phosphorus responses in wheat to stripe rust explosions,... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/06/strong-soil-nitrates-stripe-rust-surges-and-drowned-out-fields-wheat-petes-word-june-10/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Get in on the fun, baby! This week, resident agronomist Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson covers everything from winter canola opportunities and wheat pollination weather to stripe rust concerns, crusted crops, volunteer corn control, and why chasing perfection is still a worthwhile goal. Along the way, Pete reminds listeners to stay open to new ideas, question... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/06/protecting-yield-volunteer-corn-control-keeping-an-open-mind-wheat-petes-word-june-3/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Between nitrogen misses, stripe rust confirmations, aphid thresholds, and some eye-popping phosphorus response in wheat, there&rsquo;s no shortage of agronomy lessons this week. Host of Wheat Pete's Word, Peter Johnson, covers everything from late nitrogen rescue strategies to cereal leaf beetle scouting, while also diving into corn planting dates, strip-till timing, and why Ontario growers... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/05/n-misses-aphid-thresholds-strip-till-timing-and-strip-rust-wheat-petes-word-may-27-2026/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Cold soils, uneven planting progress, and plenty of agronomy questions are front and centre in this week&rsquo;s Wheat Pete&rsquo;s Word. Host Peter &ldquo;Wheat Pete&rdquo; Johnson digs into the risks of pushing wet soils, why early soybeans continue to surprise, and how weather extremes are hammering crops across North America. From changing corn maturities and fleabane... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/05/wet-soils-soybean-surprises-and-switching-corn-maturities-wheat-petes-word-may-20/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Cool nights, hot wheat markets, and plenty of agronomy curveballs &mdash; Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson is back with another packed episode of the Wheat Pete&rsquo;s Word podcast! From drought-stricken U.S. wheat crops driving market rallies, to nitrogen application headaches in Ontario wheat, Pete covers a wide range of timely crop management issues. There&rsquo;s also discussion... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/05/wheat-rallies-nitrogen-frustrations-and-cold-weather-crop-questions-wheat-petes-word-may-13/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Cold soils, slow burndowns, split nitrogen timing, and wheat disease pressure are all on the table in this week&rsquo;s Wheat Pete&rsquo;s Word. Host of the weekly podcast, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson, digs into the ongoing planting debate around cool conditions, shares observations from across Ontario and beyond, and answers a long list of listener agronomy... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/05/cold-planting-calls-thin-wheat-stands-and-early-disease-alerts-wheat-petes-word-may-6-2026/">Read More</a></p>

<p>Spring may be pushing wheat and weeds ahead, but cooler nights are keeping planting decisions complicated this week. In this episode of Wheat Pete&rsquo;s Word, host Peter Johnson covers everything from cold-weather spraying risks to nitrogen timing, plus an early-season insect alert and strong reminders on cover crop value. There&rsquo;s plenty of ground covered, literally... <a class="read-more uk-button uk-width-1-1 uk-width-1-4@s ra-readmorebutton" href="https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/04/cool-conditions-nitrogen-timing-and-cover-crop-wins-wheat-petes-word-april-29-2026/">Read More</a></p>