North Dakota Report

R.D. Horsley and J.D. Franckowiak

Department of Plant Sciences

North Dakota State University

Growing conditions during the two halves of the growing season varied drastically. Precipitation from sowing up to mid-June was at levels that favored development of foliar diseases and Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused mainly by Fusarium graminearum. However, from mid-June through harvest, precipitation was below average and further development of diseases did not occur. In the heavy soils at Fargo, stand establishment was variable and root rots destroyed the primary root system of most seedlings. Damage was greatest in the six-rowed barley nurseries sown two days after the two-rowed barley nurseries. The earlier sowing of the two-rowed barley nurseries allowed for plants to emerge before heavy rains caused soil crusting. As the plants at Fargo were recovering, a heavy barley yellow dwarf (BYDV) epiphytotic developed in early June. By early July, BYDV was a problem in many small grain fields in eastern ND. The development of leaf spot diseases, except bacterial streak (Xanthomonas campestris pv. translucens), was relatively slow during 1999. Relatively warmer weather during July favored early cultivars as Conlon. Yields as high as 120 bu/a were obtained at Langdon, but cultivars that did not have extremely strong straw were adversely affected by lodging. Spot blotch, incited by Cochliobolus sativus, septoria leaf blotch, incited primarily by Septoria passerinii, and net blotch, incited by Pyrenophora teres f. teres, were observed at Langdon; yet, loss were minimal. Bacterial leaf streak was the predominant foliar disease found at Carrington. Leaf rust, incited by Puccinia hordei, was observed in the late-planted nurseries at Casselton, Langdon, and Prosper. Prior to harvest at our Minot research site, a hailstorm severely damaged the plots. Thus, this location was abandoned.

Yield, kernel plumpness, and deoxynivalenol (DON) levels were reduced by the dry growing conditions during grain fill. The major disease problem occurring on barley produced in northeastern and north-central North Dakota was FHB. Overall, the percent of FHB found in 1999 was lower than that observed in 1998. All cultivars grown in North Dakota are moderately susceptible to the pathogens inciting FHB. Foliar diseases were most severe at Osnabrock.

Robust, released by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station in 1983, was the most widely grown variety in the state (394,250 hectares, 68.6% of barley production). Robust is the preferred six-rowed barley variety of the malting and brewing industry in the Midwest U.S. Foster, released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (NDAES) in 1995, was the second most widely grown variety in the state (47,700 hectares, 8.2% of barley production). Foster has yielded similarly to Excel and Stander, and has weaker straw strength than Stander. In the northern Red River Valley, Stander and Excel have out yielded Foster. Thus, Foster appears best adapted to all malting barley growing regions of North Dakota except the northern Red River Valley. Percent barley protein of Foster is approximately 1.5 percentage units lower than that of Morex. The lower grain protein of Foster may allow growers in the central and western malting barley growing region of North Dakota to produce barley with acceptable grain protein more consistently.

Conlon, released in 1996 by the NDAES for production in western North Dakota, was the most popular two-rowed cultivar in ND in 1999. It was sown on 17,900 hectares (3.1% of barley production), primarily in southwestern ND. Conlon grain from the 1998 crop was scored as satisfactory in the first year of AMBA plant scale malt quality tests. Seed of Conlon for the second year of plant scale tests has been purchased. Because Conlon could become a recommended malting barley variety, seed sales indicate much more Conlon will be planted this year. Yield comparisons indicated that Conlon yields about 10% less than the best six-rowed cultivar at many ND test sites.

A new six-rowed barley cultivar will be released by NDSU in June 2000. It was tested as ND15477 and will be named Drummond. More detail on the agronomic and malt quality data for Drummond are presented in a separate report. This new variety was named after Bill Drummond. Bill worked his entire career serving the barley industry in North Dakota and the U.S. Bill was the first Executive Administrator for the North Dakota Barley Council, served as an agronomist for the Malting Barley Improvement Association, and as an extension agent in North Dakota.