CROP SCENE INVESTIGATION – 37: What caused the yellow spots in that winter wheat?

by BERNARD TOBIN

Every spring, Peter Johnson sees yellow spots. It’s just one of those things that happens in winter wheat, says the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) cereals specialist.

The reason for those lighter-coloured areas in wheat fields is almost always manganese deficiency, particularly on sandy soils, muck soils and high organic matter soils. But, in 2011, many of the spots left Johnson scratching his head, searching for an explanation.

Better Farming - February 2012