2004 Variety Trials - MN Preliminary Report:

2004 Wheat, Barley and Oat Variety Performance in Minnesota

[Spring Wheat] [Winter Wheat] [Barley] [Oats]

Preface by Jochum Wiersma

Like 2003, this past summer will be entered into the record books, but for different reasons all together.  It will likely be remembered as the summer that never was. 

Using the NDAWN weather records in Grand Forks, N.D., the growing degree-day (GDD) model for spring wheat shows a minimum difference of 250 GDD from May 1 through August 1 between 2004 and the previous four years. That is equal to a week’s worth of summer weather with high temperatures in the low eighties and night-time low temperatures in the low sixties. To exemplify the cool conditions in 2004 even further, the Northwest Research & Outreach Center weather records indicate that the average temperature for the month of August was the coldest in the 115 years that records have been kept.

The growing season started very well and planting progress was even slightly ahead of the pace in 2003 and well ahead of the five-year average.  By May 3, three-fourths of the state’s spring wheat had already been planted compared to 65% and 39% for 2003 and the five-year average, respectively. 

However, very cool conditions for most of May and June resulted in a slow development of the crop - well behind the 2003 season and five-year average. Excess rain, especially in the northern tier of counties, further hampered the crop and delayed development. Despite the early planting date, only 42% of the wheat had headed in the first week of July compared to 90% in 2003. 

The remainder of the season was no different.  The cool and wet conditions that prevailed for most of August delayed crop ripening by weeks.  Harvest, therefore, was well behind the normal pace and many acres were not harvested until the beginning of September.  The prolonged wet conditions resulted in spring wheat quality problems. Lower than expected grain protein content, declining test weights, and pre-harvest sprouting were reported across the northern part of the State.

Cool conditions still supported good yields overall. The state’s average hard red spring wheat yield at 55 bushels per acre was down three bushels from last year’s record yield of 58 bushels per acre, and tied the previous record set in 1985.  The state average for spring barley was 70 bushels per acre, down five bushels from last year.  The state’s average yield for oats was 70 bushels, one bushel less than in 2003 and two bushels below the high mark.

Even with the record-breaking yields last year, small grains acreage continued to decline.  Prevented planting acreage in Kittson and Roseau counties explains a portion of those declines. Another reason for the continued decline was record high prices for corn and soybeans this past year.  Spring wheat acreage dropped another 150,000 acres to 1.7 million acres. Spring barley acreage declined 60,000 acres to 130,000 acres, and oat acreage declined 65,000 acres to 200,000 acres.  Only winter wheat showed a small increase of 2,000 acres to a total of 25,000 acres in the state.

Variety Testing
Successful small grain production begins with selecting the best varieties for a particular farm or field.  For that reason, varieties are compared in trial plots on the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) sites at St. Paul, Rosemount, Waseca, Lamberton, Morris, Crookston and Grand Rapids.  In addition to the six MAES locations, trials are also planted with a number of farm cooperators.  These plots are handled such that the factors affecting yield and performance are as nearly the same for all entries at each location as is possible.

Variety Classifications
Varieties are listed in the tables by heading date from earliest to latest.  No distinction or classification is used to group varieties.  Seed of tested varieties can be eligible for certification, and use of certified seed is encouraged.  However, certification does not imply a recommendation. Registered and certified seed is available from seed dealers or from growers listed in the “Minnesota Registered and Certified Seed Directory for 2005 Planting,” available through the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association office in St. Paul or online at www.mncia.org .

Interpretation of the Data
Presented data is preliminary variety trial information for single (2004) and multiple year (2002-2004) comparisons in Minnesota.  Yields are reported as a percentage of the location mean, with overall mean (bu/A) listed below. Two-year and especially one-year data are less reliable and should be interpreted with caution.  Similarly, averages across multiple environments, whether they are different years and/or locations, provide a more reliable estimate of mean performance.

The least significant difference or LSD is a statistical method to determine whether the observed yield differences between two varieties is due to true, genetic differences between the varieties or to interactions with other variables such as a difference in soil fertility or experimental error. If the difference in yield between two varieties equals or exceeds the LSD value, the higher yielding one was indeed superior in yield.  If the difference is less, the yield difference may have been due to chance rather than genetic differences, and we are unable to distinguish between the two. The 5% unit indicates that with 95% confidence, the observed difference is indeed a true difference in performance. Lowering this confidence level will allow more varieties to appear different from each other, but also increases the chances that false conclusions are drawn.

[Spring Wheat] [Winter Wheat] [Barley] [Oats]

The Authors and Contributors This report is written, compiled, and edited by Dr. Jochum Wiersma, Small Grains Specialist. The contributing authors are: Dr. James Anderson, Wheat Breeder, Department of Agronomy & Plant Genetics; Dr. Kevin Smith, Barley Breeder, Department of Agronomy & Plant Genetics; Dr. Deon Stuthman, Oat Breeder, Department of Agronomy & Plant Genetics; Dr. Ruth Dill-Macky, Plant Pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology; Dr. Char Hollingsworth, Extension Plant Pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology; Dr. Brian Steffenson, Plant Pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology; Dr. Martin Carson, USDA-ARS, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul; Dr. James Kolmer, USDA-ARS, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul; Gerald Ochocki, USDA-ARS, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul; Dr. John Wiersma, Agronomist, Northwest Research & Outreach Station, Crookston. Dr. Fred Kolb, University of Illinois contributed BYDV data for oats.  James Cameron, Roger Caspers, Kent Evans, Roger Fuentes, Richard Halstead, Tom Hoverstad, David LeGare, Gary Linkert, Russ Mathison, George Nelson, Edward Schiefelbein, and Steve Quiring supervised fieldwork at the various sites. Special thanks to all the cooperating producers.