On-Farm Cereal Variety and Advanced Breeding Line Testing across Montana for Environment Specific Cultivar Recommendations:

Note: A PDF version of this report can be downloaded by clicking this link

Spring Barley Off-Station Variety Performance, Havre, MT

Principal Investigator:   

Peggy Lamb, Research Scientist, Northern Ag Research Center, Havre

Project Personnel:          

Jamie Sherman, Breeder/Geneticist, Barley, Bozeman

Greg Lutgen, Research Associate, Barley, Bozeman

Eleri Haney, Research Associate, Havre

Tracy Runner, Research Assistant II, Havre

Colleen Pegar, Hill County Extension

Objectives:

Commercially available spring barley varieties and advanced breeding lines were evaluated for agronomic performance and fit at on-farm locations across the state of Montana. Sites chosen for the research considered the environment, growing conditions and soil types, and represent the major land areas for producers in those regions served by Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC). In 2009, three off-station spring barley variety trials were dropped from the NARC off-station testing program due to extensive feeding by deer and antelope, which made results meaningless. In northcentral Montana, barley production makes up over 20 percent of the state’s production, and because producers need to make decisions based on variety performance data generated under local conditions, we decided to collaborate in the standardized off-station spring barley variety trial beginning again in 2022.

Methods:

The uniform off-station barley variety performance trial was seeded into chemical fallow ground during 2023. The trial consisted of 25 entries focusing on four different end uses including malt, feed, forage, or food. The trial was 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’ small plot combine, funded in part by Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, was used to harvest each 3-row plot.  Prior to measuring plot weight for yield determination, seed was either cleaned or weighed in-dirt as per protocols. Protein, test weight and moisture content were determined on a clean sample 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 seed 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 wheat stem 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 wheat stem 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:

This report contains both single-year and long-term data summaries limited to the most recent ten years. It should be noted that the 2023 data table in this report represents varietal performance for a single crop year at a single location, therefore cannot be considered representative of performance expected when differing conditions due to location, year and management are imposed. By itself, 2023 data shall not constitute in any form a recommendation for or against any variety or breeding line included.

The 2023 Havre off-station dryland spring barley trial data was analyzed by barley type or end use. Spring barley seed yields for the malt and feed entries at Havre averaged just under 53 bu/ac (Table 1). The feed barley ‘MT Boy Howdy’ was the highest yielding entry at just over 57 bu/ac. ‘Buzz’, ‘Haxby’, ‘Hockett’, ‘MT Endurance’ and five MSU breeding lines also produced seed yields statistically equal to that of MT Boy Howdy. Test weights averaged 49 lb/bu, with Haxby being the heaviest at over 52 lb/bu. Protein averaged 14.4 percent, with MT Endurance coming in at 13.5 percent protein.

Seed yields for the forage barley entries averaged 56.9 bu/ac and ‘Lavina’ was the highest yielding entry at just over 63 bu/ac (Table 2). Breeding line ‘MT17F02410’ was the only entry to produce a seed yield statistically equal to that of Lavina.

Seed yields for the food barley or hulless barley entries averaged just over 43 bu/ac, with breeding line ‘MT19_H11_04’ producing the highest yield at nearly 46 bu/ac. ‘Havener’ and ‘MT19_H11_05’ produced seed yields statistically equal to the highest yielding entry (Table 3).

Seed yield, test weight, protein, plump kernels, heading date, maturity date and plant height, as appropriate, for the 2023 Havre off-station dryland spring barley trial are summarized according to end use in Tables 1-3.

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. Because the barley trial was initiated near Havre in crop year 2022, comparable averages for this site will not be available until 2024.

Summary:

Snow cover and below average temperatures persisted into early April, slightly delaying spring seeding in several areas across the Hi-Line. Spring barley near Havre had great stand uniformity and received timely and above average precipitation in May and during the first week of June, resulting in increased tillering and biomass production, however, much needed precipitation did not continue after June 9. This coupled with higher-than-average temperatures May through August resulted in below average seed yields and a low percentage of plump kernels, with increased seed protein in 2023.

Producers have been asking for information on spring barley varieties in northcentral Montana for several years. Since named varieties were dropped from the intrastate trial grown at the research center, and consistent data could not be obtained from farmers’ fields due to deer and antelope grazing, it was decided that the best option would be to grow the off-station trial at Northern Agricultural Research Center, behind the protection of a permanent deer fence. With budget and other resources allowing, it is planned to continue growing the standardized off station spring barley variety trial on-station to better serve producers in northcentral Montana with public and private variety information.

Recognition:

This research would not have been possible without the assistance of the following seasonal employees: Clara Haslem, Brady Kueffler, Cleta Lamb, Teresa Miller, and Nevaeh Phillips.

Table 1. MALT & FEED - Dryland Fallow Spring Barley Evaluation Nursery Grown On-Station at Havre.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2023. (Exp# 23-2702-SB)

Table 2. FORAGE - Seed Components.  Dryland Fallow Spring Barley Evaluation Nursery Grown On-Station at Havre. Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana. 2023. (Exp# 23-2702-SB)

Table 3. FOOD - Dryland Fallow Spring Barley Evaluation Nursery Grown On-Station at Havre.  Northern Agricultural Research Center.  Havre, Montana.  2023. (Exp# 23-2702-SB)