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It’s highly unlikely the sub-freezing weather will damage any of the state’s winter wheat crop, even newly emerged plants, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

“It would have to get pretty darn cold for it to do any damage to the wheat,” said Dr. Clark Neely, AgriLife Extension small grains and oilseed specialist, College Station. “If you have a healthy crop, winter wheat can handle temperatures below zero Fahrenheit prior to vernalization.”

Vernalization refers to a certain number of chilling hours a plant must experience before it switches from vegetative to reproductive growth, he said.

Pictured - Recently planted wheat in Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service trials near College Station showed good emergence and stands.(Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Dr. Clark Neely)