MN Spring Wheat

James Anderson and Jochum Wiersma

Results of the state yield trials are summarized in Tables 1 through 5. For the yield trials, the average yield of southern testing locations (St. Paul, Waseca, Lamberton and Morris) was 68 bu/A in 2004.  This compares to an average of 76 bu/A in 2003 and a three-year average of 63 bu/A.  The northern locations (Crookston, Stephen and Roseau) averaged 83 bu/A in 2004 compared to 84 bushels last year and a three-year average of 72 bu/A.

Table 1, 2, and 3 presents the relative grain yield of tested varieties in 1, 2, and 3-year comparisons. Across all locations, ‘Knudson’ and ‘Mercury’ were the highest yielding cultivars this past year. In the two and the three-year comparisons, both varieties also were among the top yielding cultivars in both the northern as well as southern locations. ‘HJ98’ continued to do well in both single year as well as multiple year comparisons across the northern locations as did ‘Verde’ across the southern locations in single year and 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 4 and 5. 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 2005

Variety selection for 2005 continues to be a balance between yield potential, disease responses, and grain quality. Leading varieties in Minnesota, based on acres planted, include ‘Oxen’, ‘Knudson’, ‘Alsen’, ‘Reeder’, Walworth’, and ‘Briggs’. New releases for 2004 are ‘Banton’, ‘Freyr’ ‘Granger’, ‘Polaris’, ‘Saturn’, ‘Steele-ND’, and ‘Trooper’. Four of these new varieties, namely Banton, Polaris, Saturn, and Trooper, have very strong straw, comparable to Granite. 

‘Briggs’, the 2002 release from SDSU, redeemed itself after a disappointing second year in both the variety trials and commercial fields, as the variety lodged considerably less than in 2003. The straw strength, nonetheless, continues to be rated as medium, similar to Walworth and Oklee. ‘Granite’ was tested for the third year and continues to impress as a variety with above average grain yield, high test weight and grain protein content, and very stiff straw. 

Mercury maintains its ranking is one of the highest yielding HRSW in the state. However, Mercury’s very poor rating for FHB makes this variety more risky for Minnesota producers. Knudson also continues to impress as a high yielding HRSW across the state. Knudson’s slightly lower grain protein content when compared to popular varieties, may prove to be its Achilles heel. ‘Oxen’ has lagged behind in yield the last two years; however, 2003 and 2004 were exceptionally favorable for spring wheat production.

Oxen remains a stable, high yielding variety with good grain quality and with medium to medium-low test weight. Reeder has proven itself as an excellent variety that combines grain quality and grain yield.

Table 1.  Relative grain yield of Hard Red Spring Wheat varieties in southern locations in Minnesota in single year (2004) and multiple year comparisons (2002-2004).

<

	Lamberton				Morris				St. Paul				Waseca
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.
	-------------------------------------------------------%------------------------------------------------------------------
Briggs	98	96	98		109	98	101		96	96	96		101	99	98
Ingot	88	90	90		80	88	94		94	96	99		84	90	89
Walworth	102	99	99		80	94	95		103	106	106		108	102	108
2375	93	95	90		110	103	101		88	84	85		90	86	84
Banton	89	–	–		105	–	–		107	–	–		85	–	–
Granger	109	105	–		110	100	–		97	98	–		92	100	–
Oklee	95	96	104		106	96	98		104	94	100		102	102	107
Trooper	91	–	–		83	–	–		129	–	–		88	–	–
Alsen	94	94	92		97	93	90		87	91	91		90	88	85
Dapps	107	97	–		105	94	–		99	98	–		108	101	–
Freyr	109	–	–		107	–	–		104	–	–		100	–	–
Mercury	115	109	110		113	114	108		135	121	118		124	115	110
Oxen	85	98	99		94	105	104		109	110	113		97	102	110
Steele-ND	100	101	–		99	100	–		120	107	–		111	105	–
Hanna	110	95	88		89	91	88		77	87	86		75	83	80
HJ98	93	102	105		94	101	99		76	95	97		95	99	97
Knudson	116	114	114		117	110	110		104	107	104		122	117	114
Parshall	65	70	73		84	87	88		116	112	106		74	86	92
Reeder	90	98	97		105	107	107		114	112	111		98	98	101
Norpro	108	111	110		93	97	101		75	90	96		105	103	101
Verde	107	107	103		112	107	102		98	101	99		108	104	102
Granite	112	116	113		97	104	104		97	98	103		99	100	92
Marshall	79	85	79		70	86	90		45	67	79		64	76	73
Saturn	93	–	–		101	–	–		130