2019 Spring Wheat Off-Station Variety Trials

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North Central Montana Off-Station Spring Wheat Variety Performance Evaluations

Principal Investigator:  Peggy Lamb, Research Scientist, Northern Ag Research Center, Havre

Project Personnel:      
Luther Talbert, Breeder/Geneticist, Spring Wheat, Bozeman
Hwa-Young Heo, Research Associate, Spring Wheat, Bozeman
Kyla McNamara, Research Associate, Havre
Jesse Fulbright, Liberty County Extension
Tyler Lane, Chouteau County Extension
Marko Manoukian, Phillips County Extension
Julianne Snedigar, Blaine County Extension

Cooperators:
Max Cederberg, Landowner, Turner
Kurt Kammerzell, Landowner, Chester
Pete Lumsden & John Flansaas, Landowners, Loring
Kendrick McKeever, Landowner, Loma

Objectives

Diverse cropping environments exist within the five‑county area most closely served by Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, durum and oat production together in the five counties (Blaine, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty and Phillips), represents just over 28 percent of the 2014-2018 statewide cereal production totals (42 percent for winter wheat and 27 percent for spring wheat).  Producers are keenly interested in variety performance data generated under local conditions.  It is our objective, within budget and other resource limitations, to evaluate small grain variety performance, over time, under conditions representative of specific areas of northern Montana, yet differing from that of the Research Center.  Growers are provided reliable, unbiased, up-to-date information to make comparisons among improved spring wheat varieties.  This report provides producers in north central Montana the information necessary to select varieties best suited for their specific area and growing conditions.

Methods

Standard off‑station spring wheat variety performance trials were conducted on chemical fallow or minimal tillage during 2019 in four northern Montana counties. 

Dryland Spring Wheat Trials:

1. Cederberg Farm, Blaine County S13-T36N-R25E
2. Flansaas/Lumsden Farm, Phillips County S24-T35N-R29E
3. McKeever Farms, Chouteau County S29-T27N-R10E
4. Kammerzell Farm, Liberty County S34-T32N-R05E

All four spring wheat trials consisted of 20 entries and were seeded in replicated, 3‑row, 22‑foot plots on a 12‑inch row spacing, utilizing a self‑propelled cone seeder with Atom Jet paired row openers.  All rows of each plot were trimmed to a harvest length of approximately 17 feet with a three-point rototiller.  Plant height was measured from the soil surface to the top of the head, excluding awns, and percent sawfly cutting was visually estimated for each plot immediately prior to harvest.  A ‘Wintersteiger Classic’ plot combine, funded in part by the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, was used to harvest each 3-row plot.  Seed was cleaned prior to measuring plot weight for yield determination.  Protein, test weight and moisture content were determined using a Foss Infratec 1241 near infrared analyzer.  Falling number was determined using a Perten FN1700 according to the FGIS Directive 9180.38.  Other variables specific to each individual trial are listed with the current year data tables.

Please note that research trial yield results recorded under wheat stem sawfly pressure are likely much higher than a producer should expect.  Small plot variety trials are managed to assess maximum yield potential and are harvested in such a way that all stems and heads are picked up by the combine, regardless of lodging or cutting due to sawfly.  Pickup guards coupled with an extremely slow ground speed and an exceptionally low cutting height help researchers collect all heads in order to assess seed yield potential.  If you are a producer in a wheat stem sawfly environment, although hollow stemmed varieties may be high yielding in research trials in your area, we strongly recommend against growing those hollow stemmed varieties.  Please be aware that if you seed hollow stemmed varieties with sawfly present, you are only creating a breeding ground for future generations of sawfly in your area and not helping combat the pest population.

Results

Spring wheat seed yields at Turner averaged nearly 53 bu/ac (Table 1).  ‘Vida’ was the top yielding entry producing 58.5 bu/ac.  ‘Dagmar’, ‘Lanning’, ‘LCS Pro’, and ‘NS Presser CLP’, ‘along the breeding line ‘MT 1673’ all produced yields statistically equal to that of Vida.  Test weight of all spring wheat entries for this site averaged just over 57 lb/bu.  Following a severe hailstorm in 2014, there were consecutive years with no sawfly cutting or infestation in the spring wheat trial at Turner, and only minimal cutting in 2017, 2018 and 2019.  Plant height, yield, protein, falling number and sawfly cutting data for the 2019 Turner dryland spring wheat trial are summarized in Table 1. 

Comparable averages are calculated using a standard check variety when not all entries are present in a specific trial for all years.  Variety means are adjusted by multiplying the actual check mean by the ratio of the individual variety mean compared to the check mean for the same years as tested.  All varieties are then directly comparable to each other when in the same nursery.  A minimum of three years of data is necessary to be included in the comparable average calculation.  Nine-year comparable averages (2010-2019) for spring wheat seed yield and test weight at Turner are summarized in Table 2, while nine-year comparable averages for sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 3.

Loring spring wheat yields averaged nearly 54 bu/ac with Vida producing the highest yield at over 65 bu/ac (Table 4).  NS Presser CLP, at just over 63 bu/ac, was the only other entry to produce a seed yield statistically equal to that of Vida.  For the fifth consecutive year, sawfly cutting was virtually nonexistent in the trial at the Loring site.  Plant height, yield, test weight, moisture, protein, falling number and sawfly cutting data for the 2019 Loring dryland spring wheat trial are summarized in Table 4.  Nine-year comparable averages for spring wheat seed yield and test weight at Loring are summarized in Table 5, while nine-year comparable averages for sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 6. 

In 2013, off-station spring wheat trials were re-established near Loma.  Seed yields averaged over 42 bu/ac (Table 7).  Dagmar, a 2019 release from Montana State University, was the highest yielding entry at nearly 52 bu/ac.  ‘Choteau’, ‘Corbin’, ‘Duclair’, NS Presser CLP, Vida, ‘WB Gunnison’ and two Montana breeding lines produced yields statistically equal to that of Dagmar.  Sawfly damage in the spring wheat small plot scenario was low again this year, averaging less than six percent cutting.  Plant height, yield, test weight, protein, falling number and sawfly cutting data for the 2019 Loma dryland spring wheat trial are summarized in Table 7.  Seven-year comparable averages for spring wheat seed yield and test weight at Loma are summarized in Table 8, while seven-year comparable averages for sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 9. 

Spring wheat seed yields at Chester averaged over 61 bu/ac, while test weights averaged just under 59 lb/bu (Table 10).  Vida was the highest yielding entry at just under 70 bu/ac.  Seed yields of Dagmar, Duclair and ‘Reeder’ were statistically equal to that of Vida.  Sawfly cutting in the small plot scenario averaged just over 12 percent in 2019, however, there were six lines that were cut and lodged between 22 and 32 percent.  Plant height, yield, test weight, protein, falling number and sawfly cutting data for the 2019 Chester dryland spring wheat trial are summarized in Table 10.  Six-year comparable averages for spring wheat seed yield and test weight at Chester are summarized in Table 11, while six-year comparable averages for sawfly cutting are summarized in Table 12. 

Summary

Cropping environments for 2019 started out with an abundance of fall rain and very good soil moisture recharge.  The spring growing season was cooler and dryer than average with many crops showing drought stress during early June.  Heavy rainfall was spotty during the latter part of June and into early July.  Precipitation coupled with prolonged cooler temperatures in July allowed for a longer period of grain fill, resulting in better than anticipated crop yields in several areas.  Both Turner and Loring received above average rainfall for June and July, resulting in above average spring crop yields.  The Turner site was seeded into a mechanical fallow field, as the producer is still dealing with soil drifts from a windstorm in 2017.  The Loma and Loring locations were seeded into chemical fallow ground that had been minimally tilled to eliminate potential weed issues.  The Chester area started out with excellent recharge soil moisture, and timely spring precipitation resulted in a very good stand, producing a high number of tillers and above average seed yield.  The Chester site was seeded into chemical fallow. 

This work has been strongly supported by producers near each of the off-station locations, and by the Northern Agricultural Research Center Advisory Council.  With budget and other resources allowing, it is planned to continue off‑station cereal variety investigations in the five‑county area.  The Loring location is entering its twenty-fifth year, and the cooperator and area producer interest and support has been outstanding.  The Turner location is only 32 miles from the Loring site, but growing conditions are quite different.  Cooperator and producer support in the Big Flat area has been outstanding through the years with 2019 marking 36 years at the present Turner site.  Various winter and spring cereal trials have been conducted with great producer support at the Chouteau County location, between Big Sandy and Loma, since 1998.  The Chester location was reestablished in 2014 following a prolonged absence of uniform off-station spring cereal testing in Liberty County.

Recognition

This research would not have been possible without the assistance of the following seasonal employees:
Tawnya Brown, Wylee Brown, Eleri Haney, Abbey Morse and Tracey Reed.

TABLE 1. Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Cultivar Evaluation Nursery Grown Off-Station at the Max Cederberg Farm, Turner.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2019.  (Exp# 19-9951-SW)

TABLE 2. Nine-Year Yield and Test Weight Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Max Cederberg Farm, Turner.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2010-2019.  (Exp# 9951-SW)

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TABLE 3. Nine-Year Sawfly Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Max Cederberg Farm, Turner.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2010-2019.  (Exp# 9951-SW)

TABLE 4. Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Cultivar Evaluation Nursery Grown Off-Station at the Flansaas-Lumsden Farm, Loring.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2019.  (Exp# 19-9955-SW)   

TABLE 5. Nine-Year Yield and Test Weight Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Flansaas/Lumsden Farm, Loring.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2010-2019.  (Exp# 9955-SW)

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TABLE 6. Nine-Year Sawfly Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Flansaas/Lumsden Farm, Loring.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2010-2019.  (Exp# 9955-SW)

TABLE 7. Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Cultivar Evaluation Nursery Grown Off-Station at McKeever Farm & Seed, Inc., Loma.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2019.  (Exp# 19-9957-SW)

TABLE 8. Seven-Year Yield and Test Weight Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at McKeever Farm & Seed, Inc., Loma.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2013-2019.  (Exp# 9957-SW)

TABLE 9. Seven-Year Sawfly Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at McKeever Farm & Seed, Inc., Loma.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2013-2019.  (Exp# 9957-SW)

TABLE 10. Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Cultivar Evaluation Nursery Grown Off-Station at the Kammerzell Farm, Chester.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2019.  (Exp# 19-9953-SW)

TABLE 11. Six-Year Yield and Test Weight Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at the Kammerzell Farm, Chester.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2014-2019.  (Exp# 9953-SW)

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TABLE 12. Six-Year Sawfly Summary on Selected Entries from Dryland Fallow Spring Wheat Variety Nurseries Grown Off-Station at Kammerzell Farm, Chester.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2014-2019.  (Exp# 9953-SW)