Estimating Yield for Wheat, Oats, and Barley

Grain yield can be estimated prior to harvest.  Remember this is just an estimate as field conditions are rarely uniform. The general formula to estimate grain yield is:

For 7” row spacing:

Wheat: Grain yield (bu/acre) = (kernels per spike x spikes per 3 ft of row) x 0.0319

Barley: Grain yield (bu/acre) = (kernels per spike x spikes per 3 ft of row) x 0.0389

Oats: Grain yield (bu/acre) = (kernels per spike x spikes per 3 ft of row) x 0.0504

To adjust to other row spacing:

6 inch row width = multiply grain yield estimate by 1.17

7.5 inch row width = multiply grain yield estimate by 0.93

10 inch row width = multiply grain yield estimate by 0.70

12 inch row width = multiply grain yield estimate by 0.58

Source: The Small Grains Field Guide A-290, J.J. Wiersma and J.K. Ransom, 2005. Reviewed May 2017.