Planting Winter Wheat in Dry Soil

Is the soil moisture adequate to plant winter wheat? That is the first question to ask. You need to determine whether there may be a problem for planting in September. First, check the weather for August. In Nebraska, check with the High Plains Climate Center managed by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and look at rainfall. Rainfall can vary greatly between years and locations (Table I). Compared to the previous two years, 2012 had a severe drought in August that continued into September. This is a good initial indication that the soil is dry, but it is not a real measure of it.