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Wheat Growers Urged to Check for First Hollow Stem
Kansas State researchers advise cattle producers to scout fields and remove grazing animals before wheat heads emerge.
Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:13pm
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Two Kansas State University graduate students are encouraging cattle producers to evaluate their wheat fields for signs of first hollow stem, a key growth stage that indicates the wheat head is emerging and grazing animals should be removed to avoid yield losses. The researchers provide guidance on how to identify first hollow stem by splitting wheat stems and looking for a hollow space under the developing head.
Why it matters
Allowing cattle to graze past the first hollow stem stage can damage the developing wheat head and significantly reduce grain yields, with losses of up to 2% per day. Identifying this growth stage in a timely manner is crucial for wheat producers who graze their fields.
The details
The first hollow stem stage is characterized by approximately 1.5 cm (or the diameter of a dime) of hollow stem underneath the developing wheat head. Researchers recommend that producers collect samples from multiple areas of the field, not just along the fence line, to get an accurate assessment. They also note that the Kansas Mesonet system has a predictive model to help estimate when fields may reach this stage.
- Warmer, wetter conditions across Kansas have recently allowed wheat heads to emerge above the soil surface.
The players
Claire Bott
A master's student in the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University.
Luiz Pradella
A doctoral student in the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University.
What they’re saying
“First hollow stem is a growth stage that we look for in our wheat to know when we need to remove cattle from these dual-purpose wheat fields.”
— Claire Bott, Master's student
“Even a single day that cattle are left on the field, letting them graze beyond the recommended point, producers are losing grain yield, up to even 2% of grain yield being lost every day that cattle are being kept on the field.”
— Claire Bott, Master's student
“The Kansas Mesonet system has a predictive model that is used to estimate the percentage of the tillers that have achieved the first hollow stem per region.”
— Luiz Pradella, Doctoral student
What’s next
Researchers suggest that producers begin checking their fields daily once the wheat stems reach close to the 1.5-centimeter mark for first hollow stem, in order to avoid overgrazing and yield losses.
The takeaway
Timely identification of the first hollow stem stage is crucial for wheat producers who graze their fields, as allowing cattle to remain past this point can significantly reduce grain yields. Proactive scouting and removal of grazing animals is recommended to protect the developing wheat heads.
