UNL specialist discusses forage options for freeze-damaged wheat
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension Livestock Educator Aaron Berger, wheat producers across the High Plains are facing the tough decision of whether damaged stands may be more valuable as forage or grain this spring in the wake of ongoing drought stress and recent freeze injury.
Persistent drought conditions, on top of the unusually warm winter of 2025-26 which resulted in wheat developing well ahead of normal, followed by freezing temperatures in late April that caused significant injury to many fields, has reduced yield potential and left producers considering alternative uses for their winter wheat crop.
“The first step in evaluating what to do with the damaged wheat is to work with crop insurance agents to understand options and the implications of potentially grazing the crop or harvesting the wheat for hay or silage,” Berger states in a May 5 press release issued by the UNL Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center.
Grazing or
harvesting as hay
Berger reiterates many dryland wheat acres across the region have been heavily stressed by drought, resulting in short plants and limited forage production.
While grazing what little forage there may be is certainly an option, Berger says, in some cases, leaving wheat standing to protect the soil may be best.
For producers able to irrigate their fields, Berger says added growth from receiving some moisture could provide an important resource in times of tight forage supplies.
For those who choose to put up hay, Berger recommends targeting the boot-to-early heading stage for the best combination of quality and yield.
“Depending on the variety, wheat harvested for hay after this stage can have rough awns, which can irritate cattle’s mouths,” he notes.
Berger also notes, because this year’s crop was grown under such stressful conditions, producers should also be wary of high nitrate levels. Whether grazing or harvesting as hay, he encourages growers to sample forage and conduct nitrate testing before feeding.
Putting up wheatlage
According to a separate UNL publication written by UNL Extension Educators Jenny Brhel and Todd Whitney, UNL Beef Systems Specialist Dr. Mary Drewnoski, UNL Emeritus Extension Forage Specialist Bruce Anderson and UNL Beef Feedlot Nutrition Specialist Galen Erickson, another option for utilizing damaged wheat is to put it up as wheatlage.
Unlike hay production, wheat harvested for silage is typically allowed to mature longer, and the specialists recommend waiting until the milk-to-soft-dough grain stage in order to maximize both energy production and dry matter yield.
They also cite research conducted near Bertrand, Neb. which shows irrigated wheat biomass nearly doubled in roughly six weeks as the crop progressed from the flag lead stage to the soft dough stage.
In trials conducted from 2016-17, UNL researchers saw forage yields increase from about 10 tons per acre in late April to nearly 20 tons per acre by early June. As the crop matured, they found the percentage of crude protein declined while total protein and energy production per acre increased because of higher overall tonnage.
Additionally, the specialists emphasize proper moisture management is essential for successful wheatlage production.
“Forage at a moisture level of 70 to 72 percent is ready for packing,” they explain. “If the moisture falls below 67 percent, the wheatlage will be too fluffy and difficult to pack tightly. Conversely, if the silage moisture content is above 72 percent, it will be prone to oxidizing. Wet wheatlage – above 78 percent moisture – will likely result in extreme losses as the nutrient dense water drains from the bunker pile.”
The five educators further note rapidly packing and getting forage covered immediately during the process of putting up wheatlage are especially important.
“Unlike corn silage, if the wheatlage pile is not covered quickly after packing, the forage may turn an oxidized black color. Although the nutritional content may still be good, oxidized wheatlage may result in reduced livestock consumption,” they state. “To reduce oxidation throughout storage, quickly recover the bunker after wheatlage is transferred to mixer trucks or daily forage feed is removed.”
The specialists also suggest packing silage in layers no thicker than six inches to improve density and minimize air pockets, and they remind growers to keep wheat variety in mind.
“The most popular forage wheat varieties have been Willow Creek – an awnless variety bred by Montana State University – and Wesley – a Nebraska-bred variety from Husker Genetics,” they add. “Awnless versus awned, or bearded, wheat head varieties are usually not an issue since the forage is chopped. However, this might be an important consideration if the wheat forage is harvested as hay after the wheat is fully headed.”
“Beyond disease and insect resistance ratings, straw strength and lodging resistance are the most important factors when it comes to variety selection for wheatlage production,” they continue. “Other wheat varieties with good to excellent straw strength ratings include AgriPro PostRock, Westbred 143, SY Wolf, SY Flint, Westbred Cedar and Westbred Winterhawk.”
Other considerations
As drought conditions continue reducing feed availability across the High Plains, interest in alternative forages continues to grow.
UNL Extension says, in addition to wheat, some producers have also considered triticale, rye and oats, each of which presents different harvest and management pros and cons.
They note triticale often produces greater tonnage but may be prone to lodges, while rye generally produces lower yields in thin stands and can be difficult to chop because of its hollow stems.
“Wrapped forage bales have also been gaining popularity in central Nebraska,” say Brhel, Whitney, Drew-noski, Anderson and Erickson. “Usually, forage bales are wrapped when the forage reaches 45 to 50 percent moisture content. The downside to ryelage or bale wraps is potentially higher feeding losses if tub grinding is not an option.”
Ultimately, UNL Extension educators encourage producers to carefully evaluate crop condition, forage needs, harvest logistics and insurance considerations before deciding whether to graze, hay or ensile freeze-damaged wheat.
With forage supplies already limited across the High Plains, damaged wheat acres may provide an important feed resource for livestock producers this year.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
