Small Grains Update Meeting Review

Marketing, Variety Trials, and Fungicide/Fertilization Research Results Discussed

Selling grain at profitable prices was the focus of Betsy Jensen’s presentation at the 2004 Small Grains Update meetings held across Minnesota in January.  Jensen is an ag commodity instructor with Northland Community and Technical College. “The new crop prices available to farmers should meet or exceed the cost of production, and that’s always a great place to begin making sales,” sayd Jensen.  “For too many years farmers have had to learn how to minimize losses, or learn how the use government programs.  If we have average yields in 2004, farmers should be able to make money at $6 cash beans, $2.25 cash corn and $3.75 cash wheat.” 

Jensen says it is difficult to make those sales since old crop prices exceeded those levels, but the focus of marketing must be making money, and not hitting the top.  “No farmer has ever gone bankrupt selling at profitable prices, but plenty of farmers have gone bankrupt trying to hit the top of the market,” said Jensen.

Variety Trials Update
Jochum Wiersma, U of M small grains specialist, provided an update on variety trials that were conducted in various locations through out Minnesota in 2003. Key points:

•  Oxen was the highest yielding variety over the last three years. Other high yielding varieties were Mercury and Verde.

•  Granite scored high in straw strength, with a lodging score of 1.2 on a 9-point scale (with 1 being the best). 

•  Oklee, a new variety this year, is early-maturing with medium straw strength (it fell down in 2003 trials), medium-to-high yield, high test weight, and medium-to-high protein. Oklee also has weak dough mixing properties, a detriment to bakers.

•  Dandy, Mercury and Ingot were susceptible to pre-harvest sprouting which resulted in low falling numbers. A pre-harvest sprouting rating was reported in this year’s variety trials.

Jochum’s Picks for 2004

South of Highway 2:

•  Alsen

•  Oxen/Oklee/Briggs

•  Knudson/Verde

North of Highway 2:

•  Alsen/Hanna

•  Oxen/Reeder/Oklee

•  Knudson/Verde/Granite

Scab Forecasting Network Expanded in Minnesota
Marcia McMullen, Extension Plant Pathologist at NDSU, said that the Scab Forecasting Network that has been available for several years through the NDAWN system, has now been expanded into Minnesota.  She said there will be a couple of changes to the forecasting model in 2004. First, new and more accurate prediction formulas will be used in the system and second, Dr. Char Hollingsworth, U of M extension plant pathologist will be coordinating a system that uses many more weather stations throughout Minnesota. Now, the forecasting model should cover the entire wheat growing area of Minnesota.

The NDSU System can be found at www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/cropdisease and the Minnesota system at www.smallgrains.org

McMullen also reviewed last year’s predictions for scab at various locations in Minnesota. The model showed a high risk for scab around June 25 in the southern valley and much less in the northern valley. After June 25 the risk of scab drop off considerably, most likely because of warmer and drier condition.

Fungicide Research
McMullen said her fungicide research showed economic returns for fungicide use
in both 2002 and 2003, with 2003 showing greatest returns to using a fungicide. For late season control of leaf disease, applying a fungicide at Feekes 10.5-10.51 (full heading to early flowering) gives the optimum control for leaf diseases. Other research conclusions:

•  Leaf diseases began early in 2003, necessitating the use of fungicides in some fields.

•  Late season dry conditions in many areas of the state prevented severe leaf diseases and kept scab levels low.

•  Research results show economic response to fungicides, even in the presence of high yields.

•  The majority of response in 2003 may have been due to leaf diseases control.

•  Risk for 2004 is dependent on weather, variety grown and cropping practices (i.e rotation and other practices).

Fertility Research

George Rehm, University of Minnesota Soil Scientist, reviewed the results of two wheat research projects that were requested by growers and funded by the Minnesota Wheat checkoff.

The first project was designed to determine if more nitrogen fertilizer was required to meet the needs of higher yielding and higher protein spring wheat varieties, and if these newer varieties vary in their nitrogen requirements for optimum production. Rehm used Alsen, Oxen, Knudson, and 2375 in the experiment.  The results:

•  Grain yields and protein increased with increased N fertilization rates.

•  The use of sugarbeets as a previous crop contributed significantly to the available nitrogen at the Fergus Falls site in 2003.

•  The effect of nitrogen on either grain yield or protein did not vary based on variety.

Rehm’s second project examined the combined effect multiple inputs had on yield. The inputs included intensive management using fungicides, insecticides and herbicides in various combinations, and timing of applications.  The results:

•  Insect and disease pressure at the research sites were not a problem in the 2003-growing season.

•  There was no economic benefit from any of the selected treatments in 2003.

Because we experienced optimal weather conditions in 2003, Rehm says trial will be repeated in the 2004 season. He says results may be different under less optimum conditions.

The Small Grains Update meetings were sponsored by the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, the Minnesota Wheat Council, and the University of Minnesota Extension Service.