SDSU 2003 Small Grain Variety Performance Results, Variety Recommendations
for 2004

SD Spring Wheat                   SD Barley

South Dakota State University has released its small grain variety trial performance results for 2003, top performing varieties over the past three years, and varieties recommended for planting in 2004.

Varietal recommendations may vary from one crop adaptation area to another, based on soil type, elevation, temperature, and rainfall. Varieties are also recommended on the basis of growing season, average rainfall, disease frequency, and farming practices common to a crop adaptation area.

Varieties exhibiting a high level of agronomic performance are listed as “Recommended.” Varieties listed as “Acceptable/Promising” have performed well, but do not merit the “Recommended” list or are new varieties with a high performance potential but have not yet achieved three-years of performance data for evaluation. A variety needs two years and six location-years in the SDSU crop performance test trials and/or regional nurseries before it is eligible for the “Acceptable/Promising” list.

The SDSU performance results rates varieties with a high top yield percentage; these are varieties evaluated which have the ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions across many locations in the state. In contrast, varieties with a low top yield percentage typically adapt to a narrow range of environments.  S.D. producers should look for varieties with a relatively high top-yield percentage of 50% or higher if possible.

Hard Red Spring Wheat
The top-performing varieties in 2003 (variety and top yield percentage) were Alsen and Forge at 63%, Reeder and Russ at 50%, and Briggs, Oxen, and Walworth at 38% This means these varieties were in the top-yielding group at 63%, 50%, and 38% of the test locations for 2003. The best top-yield varieties over the past three years were Forge, Reeder, and Russ at 100%; Oxen, Knudson, and Parshall at 83%; and Alsen, Briggs, Ingot, NorPro and Walworth at 67% of the test locations.

Recommended: Briggs, Forge, Ingot, Knudson Oxen, Reeder and Russ are varieties SDSU recommends for planting consideration statewide. 

Acceptable/Promising: Alsen and Norpro are regarded acceptable/promising in the northern half of the state; Walworth statewide; and Parshall in the north central and northwest regions of S.D.

Oats
In 2003, Don, HiFi, and Jerry exhibited a top yield percentage of 50%. Over the past 3 years the highest top yield percentages were Jerry at 80%; and Don, Loyal, and Reeves at 60%. This year the hull-less varieties Buff and Paul exhibited the highest average bushel weights (43 and 42 lb, respectively) followed by the conventional varieties Hytest, Jerry, and Reeves (40, 38, and 38 lb, respectively).

Recommended: Jerry and Reeves, statewide. Don is recommended statewide, except in the east. Loyal is recommended statewide, except in southeast and southern S.D.

Acceptable/Promising: Buff (hull-less) statewide

Barley
In 2003, the best top yield group percentages were Haxby at 75%; Valier at 63%, and Conlon and Excel at 38% of the locations tested. The better varieties over the past three years were Lacey at 100%; Robust at 80%, and Conlon, Drummond, and Excel at 60% of the test locations. The two-row varieties, Haxby and Conlon, tested 1 to 3 lb higher in bushel weight than the average across all varieties.

Recommended: Lacey, statewide. Excel and Robust statewide, except in the south and southeast.

Acceptable/Promising: Drummond statewide; Conlon statewide except east and south.

SDSU Test results compiled by Robert G. Hall, extension agronomist; John Rickertsen, research associate; and Kevin K. Kirby, agricultural research manager. The publication (EC 774) Small Grains 2004 Variety Recommendations and 2003 Crop Performance Results has more comprehensive information, including winter wheat data.  It is available on the Internet at http://plantsci. sdstate.edu/varietytrials/vartrial.html .