MN Spring Wheat

By James Anderson and Jochum Wiersma

The results of the state yield trials are summarized in Tables 1, 2, and 3. For the yield trials, the average yield of southern testing locations (St. Paul, Waseca, Lamberton and Morris) was 76 bu/A in 2003. This compares to an average of 46 bushels per acre in 2002 and a three-year average of 62 bu/A. The northern locations (Crookston, Stephen and Roseau) averaged 84 bu/A in 2003 compared to 55 bushels last year and a three-year average of 65 bu/A.

Table 1 presents the relative grain yield of tested varieties in 1, 2, and 3-year comparisons. Across all locations, ‘HJ98’ and ‘Knudson’ were the highest yielding cultivars this past year. ‘Oxen’ was again one of the top yielding cultivars in the south but yielded relatively poor in the northern locations. In the two and the three-year comparisons, ‘HJ98’, ‘Mercury’, ‘Knudson’ were among the top yielding cultivars in both the northern as well as southern locations. Thus, these varieties did well across the whole state in both single year as well as multiple year comparisons.

  Grain yield is an important economic trait but return per acre is also a function of the grain quality of the bushels produced. Varietal characteristics are presented in Tables 2 and 3.  Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) or scab can reduce grain quality and yield dramatically and thus is an important consideration. The foliar disease rating represents the total complex of leaf diseases other than leaf rust, and includes the Septoria complex and tan spot.  Although varieties may differ for their response to each of those diseases, the rating does not differentiate among them.  Therefore, the rating should be used as a general indication and only for varietal selection in areas where these diseases historically have been a problem or if the previous crop is wheat or barley.  Control of leaf diseases with fungicides may be warranted, even for those varieties with an above average rating.  The varietal response to FHB is presented as a severity rating similar to the rating for leaf and stem rust.  The resistance to spread in the head is the basis for this severity rating and is one of the resistance mechanisms to the disease.  In addition, a second rating is provided to characterize the ability of a variety to maintain sound, plump kernels despite visual disease symptoms on the head. This ability to maintain sound kernels and thus, test weight is another component to resistance.

Variety selection for 2003 continues to be a balance between yield potential, disease responses, and grain quality. Leading varieties in Minnesota, based on acres planted, include ‘Oxen’, ‘Walworth’, ‘Alsen’, ‘Parshall’, and ‘Reeder’. ‘Oklee’ is a new release of the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. Testing of ‘Oklee’ has been underway for a number of years and both single year as well as multiple year comparisons are reported. ‘Dapps’ is a new release from North Dakota State University.  It is a very high quality HRSW as evidenced by the highest grain protein percentage in the trials (Table 2). ‘Briggs’, the 2002 release from SDSU, had a disappointing second year in both the variety trials and commercial fields, as the variety lodged much more than previously had been observed.  ‘Granite’ was tested for the second year as well and continues to impress as a variety with high test weight and grain protein content and very stiff straw. 

Of the recent releases, Mercury continues to impress with a high yield potential across the whole region.  However, Mercury’s very poor rating for FHB makes this variety less suited for Minnesota producers. Oxen remains a stable, high yielding variety with good grain quality but with medium to medium-low test weight. Walworth has shown an excellent yield potential but its straw strength remains below par for Minnesota growing conditions.  Reeder has proven itself as an excellent variety that combines grain quality and grain yield. Knudson impresses as an all around HRSW and Alsen continues to be the best hedge against FHB.

Table 1.     Relative Grain Yield of Hard Red Spring Wheat Varieties in Minnesota in Single Year (2003) and Multiple Year Comparisons (2001-2003).

	STATE			NORTH1			SOUTH2			ON-FARM
VARIETY	1 yr	2 yr	3 yr	1 yr	2 yr	3 yr	1 yr	2 yr	3 yr	1 yr	2 yr	3 yr
Environments	7	13	20	3	5	8	4	8	12	4	11	18
Ingot	97	96	95	98	95	96	96	96	94	95	90	93
Briggs	98	99	-	102	103	-	94	97	-	101	104	-
Oklee	94	99	99	96	99	101	92	99	97	104	103	102
Walworth	101	102	102	98	100	102	103	103	103	101	101	103
Dapps	93	-	-	96	-	-	91	-	-	88	-	-
Oxen	105	105	105	97	97	98	111	111	110	110	108	107
Alsen	92	92	93	94	98	98	90	89	90	95	96	95
Reeder	103	102	103	99	99	102	106	105	105	100	99	101
Knudson	107	106	105	105	105	103	109	107	106	102	110	-
Mercury	105	106	107	101	105	106	108	106	107	101	105	105
Parshall	94	93	93	93	94	95	95	93	92	95	90	91
Russ	103	100	100	106	102	99	101	99	101	-	-	-
Hanna	95	91	91	98	98	97	92	87	87	97	90	-
2375	93	91	94	100	97	99	88	87	91	-	-	-
Dandy	105	106	104	103	102	103	107	108	105	-	-	-
HJ98	110	107	104	112	109	102	109	105	105	-	-	-
NorPro	102	102	103	99	98	96	104	105	108	103	94	97
Verde	100	99	98	97	99	97	103	99	99	105	107	102
Granite	101	99	-	93	91	-	106	104	-	96	97	-
Ivan	103	102	102	105	106	105	101	98	100	-	-	-
Marshall	97	93	94	102	95	93	93	91	94	-	-	-
Mean (bu/A)	79.2	65.7	63.4	83.7	72.3	65.4	75.8	61.5	62.1	85.2	59.7	60.3
LSD (0.05)	5.2	4.3	3.5	8.0	7.3	5.5	5.0	5.2	4.5	9.6	8.2	5.8

Table 2.  Agronomic Characteristics of Hard Red Spring Wheat Varieties in Minnesota in Single Year (2003) Comparisons and Multiple Year Comparisons (2002-2003).

				Test Weight		Protein 2
	Days To Heading	Plant Height	Straw Strength	1 yr	2 yr	1 yr	2 yr	Baking
Variety	Days	Inches	Strength	lbs/bu		%		Quality 3
Briggs	63	35	medium	62.7	61.0	14.7	14.9	-
Oklee	64	32	medium	63.4	61.7	15.3	15.2	low-med.
Walworth	65	35	medium	61.7	59.8	15.0	15.0	med.-high
Dapps	65	37	medium	61.8	-	16.5	-	-
Oxen	65	32	m. strong	61.9	59.7	14.7	14.8	high-med.
Alsen	66	33	strong	62.7	61.3	15.3	15.6	high
Reeder	66	34	strong	62.3	60.5	14.9	14.8	med.-high
Knudson	66	32	m. strong	62.3	60.7	14.0	14.4	med.-high
Mercury	66	29	strong	61.8	59.8	14.3	14.5	med.
Parshall	66	39	strong	63.4	61.9	15.1	15.2	high-med.
Russ	66	36	m. strong	62.1	59.7	14.1	14.4	high-med.
Hanna	66	39	m. strong	61.9	60.4	14.6	14.9	high
2375	67	32	medium	62.2	60.4	14.9	14.9	med.
Dandy	67	36	v. strong	63.2	61.5	14.3	14.5	low
HJ98	67	32	medium	61.8	59.8	14.3	14.5	med.-low
NorPro</